Patriots’ 5-game win streak has one constant that’s impossible to ignore

The New England Patriots haven’t lost a football game since Week 3, and the singular driving force remains a topic of debate on sports radio and national talk shows.

Is it quarterback Drake Maye, who has suddenly vaulted himself into the NFL MVP conversation with the likes of Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, and Jonathan Taylor?

Or is it head coach Mike Vrabel, who in short order has completely changed the Patriots’ culture while reigniting one of the most passionate fan bases in sports?

The right answer is that both Maye and Vrabel have been the drivers of New England’s 6-2 start, which includes five consecutive wins entering a Week 9 home game against the Atlanta Falcons. The Patriots’ belief in their head coach has them way ahead of schedule in 2025; the play of their 23-year-old quarterback has them ascending at an absurd rate.

But what if there’s a Door No. 3, a defensive player no one’s really talking about who’s been an undeniable constant during New England’s five-game win streak?

The New England Patriots are 5-0 in games featuring cornerback Christian Gonzalez, and it’s not a coincidence

It’s common for NFL players to miss significant time with a hamstring injury.

Two months? That’s certainly among the outliers.

It was a frustrating summer for the Patriots and star cornerback Christian Gonzalez. He injured his hamstring in July, missed the majority of training camp, and surprisingly remained off the field through New England’s first three games of the regular season.

The Patriots were a 1-2 football team when Gonzalez made his season debut against the Carolina Panthers in Week 4; New England won that game in Foxboro, 42-13, and hasn’t lost one since.

They haven’t always passed the eye test, but the Patriots enter November ranked ninth in Pro Football Focus’ coverage rating. Gonzalez was clearly the missing piece; he’s allowing a 68.6 passer rating when targeted with no touchdowns, and the Patriots are surrendering just 15.6 points per game since he entered the lineup (and never more than 20 points).

We may never know the real story behind Gonzalez’s long absence earlier this season. Maybe he reinjured his hamstring on the journey back; perhaps it was related to his looming contract extension (which could come as early as 2026) and not wanting to risk anything.

All we know is that the Patriots are a different — and undefeated — team when the 23-year-old is on the field, and he’s probably not getting enough credit for his impact through five games in 2025.