After spending two decades atop the AFC East, the Patriots have swiftly fallen from their pedestal and taken a seat at the bottom of not just the division, but the league. It was due in large part to Tom Brady's departure, along with several other dynasty legends, and the improper roster building by Bill Belichick through the draft and free agency.
That put a lot of pressure on Mike Vrabel's shoulders this offseason to totally revamp the roster from top to bottom. They were fortunate to have already found their quarterback of the future with Drake Maye, and added some stellar talent to all sides of the team that now have analysts projecting they could be a sneaky wild card addition in this season's playoffs.
The assumption is that the Bills will continue to reign supreme, so the Patriots will have to compete with the Bills and Dolphins to gain ground.
There is a lot of hope that the Jets will continue to Jet, as they almost always do, and the Dolphins will keep heading toward an implosion that will essentially make them a non-factor. They've had enough drama to believe it won't stop any time soon, especially when Tyreek Hill is actively putting down his teammates to the media.
🎥 Tyreek Hill on how the Dolphins can solve their short yardage woes in the run game: "Take [Achane] out on 3rd-down. That's my honest opinion. If it's 3rd-and-short, he's not a power back... If I'm being honest, that's why you got Jaylen Wright." (@MiamiDolphins) #PhinsUp pic.twitter.com/mYxKPUkVHO
— FinsXtra (@FinsXtra) August 1, 2025
Whether he's correct or not with his assessment is irrelevant. The fact that the team has been experiencing some inner turmoil, much of which has had Hill at the center of it, makes his comments even worse for their season ahead.
The Dolphins look like they won't be a factor for the Patriots during the 2025 season
There have been plenty of rumors surrounding the Dolphins over the past two years, with many picking up heading into the 2025 season. Most have surrounded the future of head coach Mike McDaniel, as many believe he might be on his last leg if the team doesn't deliver as soon as this fall.
The excitement around his initial hiring has subsided, and that has only worsened as Miami has fallen out of contention after what appeared to be nearing relevancy for the first time in years. It's only gotten worse with the questionable handling of Tua Tagovailoa, among other things.
The most recent is, of course, Hill and his constant shenanigans. He left a negative impression at the end of last season with his declaration of wanting off the Dolphins, which he has had to walk back and apologize for. So, hearing his comments on his teammate this past week would presumably put him back in hot water.
If this kind of behavior continues, the Patriots will be one of the teams to benefit most from the Dolphins' downfall, as they could almost assuredly be eliminated from contention in the division and the AFC in its entirety.
Making it even better is that the Patriots might not even need the unexpected help from a Dolphins nosedive since they have one of the easiest schedules in the league. That could become a significant factor in their success this year, on top of the impact that Mike Vrabel will inevitably have on the team and morale.