The New England Patriots have run up an impressive eight-game win streak, sit 9-2 on the season, and are also atop the AFC East over second-place Buffalo. Now, The Athletic's Chad Graff is citing the site's playoff predictor, as the Patriots have a 12% chance to win the Super Bowl this season.
Mike Vrabel engineered a masterful turnaround of his roster in one offseason. While it's being downplayed by some because of the so-called weakness of the team's schedule, you play who's in front of you in the NFL, and the Patriots have beaten most of them. Vrabel has to be a candidate for NFL Coach of the Year.
While there's a long way to go before any Super Bowl glory can eventuate, the fact is the Patriots have already racked up a winning season, and have bettered the win total of the past two seasons by two after only 11 games. That in itself is a major achievement for Vrabel and company.
Mike Vrabel and the Patriots will play one game at a time wherever it leads
The 2024 Patriots had a top rookie quarterback in Drake Maye. He was mismanaged as he received no first-team snaps at all until about the fourth game of the regular season. Regardless, he still excelled with a 66 percent completion percentage with a porous offensive line and a poor receiving corps.
Vrabel rebuilt the O-line to the tune of 80 percent. While it's still giving up sacks at a high clip, it's still improved, and so are the wide receivers with Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins, and Kyle Williams added to upgrade an arguably worst-in-the-NFL unit. Now there's even talk of a possible first-round playoff bye and even a Super Bowl run and win.
Add a defense that's been improved at every level, and talk of big things in the playoffs is justified.
The Patriots are up to a 12 percent chance to win the Super Bowl(!!) and a 46 percent chance at a first-round bye, per @TheAthleticNFL's playoff predictor. https://t.co/r3VSwGltMZ pic.twitter.com/54A1UMalIK
— Chad Graff (@ChadGraff) November 17, 2025
The Patriots are on their way to the NFL playoffs and maybe a lot more. No matter what the ultimate outcome of the season it's already a rousing success, and with quarterback Drake Maye on board, the future looks rosy indeed.
The 2025 Patriots may again "shock the world"
In 2001, Patriots' Tedy Bruschi said that the Patriots' 2001 team had "shocked the world". They had indeed. With a green second-year quarterback named Tom Brady, they beat the odds and topped the St. Louis Rams, the "greatest show on turf". In 2025, the Patriots have Drake Maye, and once again, anything is possible.
Mike Vrabel took command of the Patriots on January 12, 2025, and in a matter of months, after a brilliant offseason and draft, has catapulted the Patriots back to the top of the AFC East. Vrabel recently stated again that one of the top two reasons he took the Patriots' job was the presence of Maye. He wasn't mistaken. Maye is a Pro Bowler, likely an All-Pro, and maybe even an MVP right now.
The second-year quarterback is indeed considered an MVP favorite by some. While his 2024 season with the dismal supporting cast was still terrific, he's now taken a better team to being tied for the best record in the NFL, and may just lead the Patriots to a bye week and maybe more in the playoffs.
There are six 2025 regular-season games left, and injuries will take their toll. Regrettably, Vrabel did nothing at the trade deadline to strengthen the team and even weakened it by jettisoning Keion White for a sixth-round draft pick. He may already regret that decision with the recent injury to Milton Williams. Regardless, Vrabel has Drake Maye, and when you have one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL on hand, anything is possible, including winning the Lombardi Trophy.