The New England Patriots might be in the best position in all of football. Just a year ago, they had fired head coach Jerod Mayo after a 4-13 season. While Drake Maye and Christian Gonzalez looked to be building blocks, no one could have expected them to make such an incredible turnaround.
Mike Vrabel's squad got their first playoff win on Sunday after a 16-3 win over the Chargers. It was an incredibly gritty game, with a Hunter Henry touchdown the lone score for either team. Drake Maye had a pair of fumbles (one recovered) and an interception, while K'Lavon Chaisson stripped Justin Herbert and Christian Elliss recovered. Despite losing the turnover battle, New England stood strong.
The Patriots' defense continued to dominate throughout the game. They recorded six total sacks and 39 pressures, their most in a single game all year. Across the board, the Patriots were excellent defensively, and while there's more that can be done on offense, the team is well ahead of schedule.
This playoff win is only the beginning for the Patriots
The Patriots are overachieving without a doubt. From worst to first in the AFC East in a year and improving their record by ten wins, there's little more you could ask for from Vrabel and his coaching staff.
When you keep in mind how much more the team can grow, though, there's even more to be excited about. Former Pro Bowl guard and first-round pick Damien Woody agrees, saying this is only the beginning for New England.
National temperature check: Patriots’ defense generating discussion on @GetUpESPN in the aftermath of Sunday’s win.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) January 12, 2026
“This is only the beginning,” says analyst @damienwoody, sharing his viewpoint of how well-coached the team is as it gets contributions from many younger players. pic.twitter.com/lYb4LFjdQP
New England has overachieved for a variety of reasons, one of which has been Vrabel's coaching. Vegas set the team's season win total at 8.5, making them a favorite to miss the playoffs by a game or two. Instead, they grabbed the No. 2 seed.
That preseason win total wasn't for no reason. New England has to improve across the offensive line, needs another top-tier pass catcher, and needs to improve on the edge. Thankfully, there's no shortage of resources this offseason for them to do just that.
The Patriots are 9th in effective cap space and have 12 draft picks this offseason, with top veterans potentially available. A.J. Brown could be traded after the Eagles were eliminated from the playoffs, and Ravens superstar center Tyler Linderbaum is a pending free agent. Pass rushers like Khalil Mack and A.J. Epenesa could offer juice on the defensive front.
The Patriots' 2025 has been incredibly successful, but they can't stop now. No matter how New England's playoff run ends, they have the chance to further improve one of the best teams in the entire NFL this offseason.