Saying the New England Patriots haven't gotten off to the best start to the season tells half the story. However, as much as Drake Maye has looked like a shell of himself, the 1-2 record is somewhat misleading.
They may not have been as efficient as they were last season, but they were in a position to win their first two games before their no-show against the Jacksonville Jaguars. It was a bad scheduling spot for Mike Vrabel's team, and those things can happen.
Now, the Patriots are set to face the Buffalo Bills in a pivotal early-season matchup. That was also the case last week, when they met with Josh Allen while holding a 2-2 record, and it marked the beginning of a 10-game winning streak that culminated in a Super Bowl run.
So, who's to say it can't happen again?
Taking down the Bills will give the Patriots the motivational boost they need
This Patriots team has some off vibes, especially compared to last season's. That said, Mike Vrabel still believes in his guys, doubling down on his commitment to this roster and shutting down all big trade rumors.
Notably, beating their biggest threat in the division and a battle-tested Super Bowl contender like the Bills can be the perfect catalyst to make this team believe again. It must be just what Drake Maye needs to find his footing again and get out of his own head.
Both teams enter this game in opposite directions. Joe Brady's squad has been a juggernaut on both ends of the field, whereas the Patriots' offense is still taking baby steps. Then again, name-by-name, these rosters are actually closer than the record might suggest, and divisional games are always a toss-up.
The Patriots arrived in Buffalo last season, and Maye torched them for 274 passing yards. The game went down to the wire, with Andy Borregales sealing the deal with a 32-yard, game-winning field goal and starting a 10-game winning streak.
Not many people thought Vrabel's team would pull it off back then. They were 7.5-point underdogs ahead of kickoff, with the line being as high as 8.5 at one point. Even so, they led for most of the contest, forcing three turnovers. Then, they wouldn't lose another regular-season game until a Week 15 rematch with the Bills.
Sometimes, teams need to hit rock bottom to look in the mirror, lick their wounds, and get back on their feet. The start of the season has been far from ideal, but there are still 14 regular-season games.
No one believed in them last season, not even after that big upset, and they went on to win 17 games and fell one win short of the Lombardi. The fans still believe, and so will the players if (when) they make a statement in Week 4.
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