FOXBORO - The New England Patriots came out of Week 5 looking more like a team with some traction. At 3-2 after a 45-point outburst against the Las Vegas Raiders, they’ve got a two-game winning streak and, maybe more importantly, a quarterback who suddenly looks like himself again.
That part mattered as much as the scoreboard. Drake Maye threw four touchdowns, ran for another and helped power a victory that felt different from the early-season version of this team. The confidence was obvious, and so was the shift in tone once the final whistle sounded.
“Last week doesn't matter,” Mike Vrabel said after the game. “We're gonna have to focus on the Jets in the division here at home. We still have a lot to improve and to clean up.”
Vrabel’s message matched the way the Patriots are talking about themselves right now: pleased, but not satisfied. He pointed to the team’s effort, its ability to get stops in the red zone and finish drives, and the way it avoided letting penalties completely wreck the afternoon.
“There's just a lot of things that we have to do to improve, and we have to come back. Again, the players, the effort in which they play with and being able to get stops in the red zone and finish off drives and not let penalties affect us, like, those are all positives.
Those are things that crumbled us early in the year, especially offensively, and so we were able to overcome that. But eventually, you're not gonna be able to overcome some of the mistakes that we made and some of the penalties.”
That still leaves room for the bigger picture, especially after Maye’s performance turned the offense into a weekly problem for the Raiders. The Patriots looked comfortable doing damage nearly every time they had the ball, and that was the kind of production that can change the mood around a locker room in a hurry.
“I'm just proud of these guys for stepping up. I mean, offense, defense, overall as a football team, that's a - I think we talk about identity with Coach Vrabel. I mean, that's a Coach Vrabel football team of stepping up, being ready to take advantage of your opportunity, and he always says when somebody gets their opportunity, he's excited to watch them play, and I think guys are living that.”
The belief around Maye was just as clear from the players around him. Efton Chism III said the offense is feeding off what it sees from its quarterback.
“We got so much belief in Drake and that he's one of the best quarterbacks in the league. We just got to continue to prepare each and every day lie that and, you know, not take Monday to Saturday for granted.”
On defense, Gabe Jacas described a comfort level that comes from playing fast and trusting the group around him.
“I'm 100% comfortable. I just play football.
You know, it's a fun thing when you just out there playing free. You got 10 of the guys just willing to play for you and play behind you, and it's a good feeling.”
Kindle Vildor also said the week had been set up in a way that let him be ready when his chance came after being signed from the practice squad.
“I feel like I was able to prepare. Pretty much knew Wednesday when we got in, I knew that I'd be playing. So it was a typical game week for me, just able to watch the film and break it down on my own.”
Robert Spillane saw the change on the sideline, where Maye’s energy reflected the team’s new mood.
“It's fun to see Drake smiling big on the sidelines. That confidence is obviously back, so to be able to watch him lead and move the ball down the field was fun.”
None of that erases what still needs cleaning up. The Patriots were penalized 12 times for 116 yards, and Brock Bowers gave them trouble for much of the game. Even in a 28-point win, there were clear leaks.
Still, this is the kind of result New England can build on. With the New York Jets coming to Foxboro next Sunday, the Patriots have a chance to keep the streak going and keep Maye rolling.
If they get more out of players expected to grow into bigger roles, including Jacas and A.J. Brown - who is eligible to be taken off of IR this week - the direction of the season starts to look a lot more encouraging after that uneven opening stretch.
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