The New England Patriots won a big Week 2 tilt against the always tough at home Miami Dolphins in a hard-fought see-saw game. It gave a huge boost to new Head Coach Mike Vrabel, his staff, and the rebuilt 2025 roster. The team now sits in second place in the AFC East, exactly where they should be.
Quarterback Drake Maye had the best game of his early professional career in only his 14th start. Maye ripped an 82.6 percent completion rate with two touchdowns passing, another on the ground, and no interceptions. Anything close to those numbers the rest of the season, and he'll have Vrabel's 2025 Patriots knocking on the playoffs door by week 17.
Yet, that's easier said than done. They beat a reeling Dolphins team whose young coach is under fire. It's a far cry from taking on the NFL's elite. The Patriots will get a look at a far better team when they host the 1-1 Pittsburgh Steelers and their Hall of Fame quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, in Week 3.
Top analyst says "pump the brakes" on the Patriots' resurgence
Bleacher Report has cited the biggest overreactions after Week 2 of the NFL season, and the Patriots coach/quarterback tandem of Mike Vrabel and Drake Maye made the list.
"Mike Vrabel and Drake Maye Are the Patriots' New Brady-Belichick'. The New England Patriots are 1-1 after a thrilling win over the rival Miami Dolphins. Second-year quarterback Drake Maye played fantastically in the win, and it's not hard to envision a very bright future with him and new head coach Mike Vrabel leading the franchise...
Are the Patriots getting an early look at their next version of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady? Let's pump the brakes on that one.
However, it's far too early to start dreaming about a new Patriots dynasty helmed by Vrabel and Maye. Sunday's win was inspiring, but it came against a Dolphins team that suddenly looks like one of the worst in the NFL. Maye's potential is sky high, but he's still a relatively unrefined quarterback...Patriots fans should feel really good about where their team is after its first win of the season. Let's see if they feel similarly after Week 18."
Bleacher Report has correctly warned Patriot Nation that one game doesn't make a season or create a dynasty. While the euphoria of getting Mike Vrabel's first Patriots win and a brilliant performance by Drake Maye to boot, the NFL season remains a long and grueling one. There are 15 more games to go before even judging their overall progress.
Every week in the NFL season brings its own challenges. For the Patriots, in Week 2, it was going to the team's own "House of Horrors", Hard Rock Stadium, facing their own personal nemesis, Tua Tagovailoa, and getting a win. They achieved that goal, and the team and Patriot Nation can feel good, if not euphoric, about the prospects going forward.
The new Patriots are getting acclimated step-by-step and week-by-week
Mike Vrabel accepted the Patriots Head Coaching job, and more, knowing full well that his roster was a train wreck. He has since turned almost 50 percent of it over, and more changes are on the way. Additional members of the dismal 2024 roster will be heading out the door.
Regardless, Vrabel knew he had a quarterback. In the offseason, he set about assembling a representative NFL roster with upgrades all over the lot. The offensive line, 2024's worst in the NFL, is significantly improved, and it shows. They're giving Maye more time to throw, and when he gets that, he excels.
The coaches now also seem to be allowing him to use his legs when necessary. That's a big plus. Unfortunately, the wide receiving corps is still a work in progress. Yet, if they activate and use rookies Efton Chism III and Kyle Williams, the coaching staff will get that room untracked. Maybe they'll get the message.
On defense, Milton Williams is already showing he's worth every bit of his $140M contract. Although a defensive tackle, he already has two sacks, one of which was a game-winner, and is ranked 14th on Pro Football Focus's list of the NFL's top pass-rushers thus far in 2025. That's called early impact.
Like the wide receivers, however, the inside linebackers have underperformed. They need to be better, or Vrabel will have to make changes. There's still a lot of work to do, but with coach Mike Vrabel, quarterback Drake Maye, an improving offensive line, and a few defensive standouts, the Patriots are on the upswing.
Bleacher Report sensibly says "pump the brakes", but don't pump them too hard; the Patriots' wagon is rolling and is gaining momentum by the week.