There was a lot riding on the Patriots going into their first matchup with the Dolphins last week, as they were coming off a disappointing and avoidable loss to the Raiders in their home opener. The odds were stacked against them because of that, but also due to having not won a game in Miami since 2019, which made the win that much sweeter.
The offense appeared to be a much more cohesive unit, with some observers even suggesting that it was Drake Maye's best game of his career thus far. That performance, coupled with the impressive effort by the defense, made for an exciting game to remember, with a few key players who made the win possible.
Among the most notable names is Marte Mapu, who transitioned from safety to linebacker this offseason to better fit the defense Mike Vrabel was pushing to build. He has seen an increased role on special teams and limited snaps on defense, but made the most of those opportunities last week by logging an interception and well-timed tackles.
It would be fair to say that Mapu has become somewhat of a secret weapon for the Patriots in two phases of the game, and it's clear he is impressing the new coaching staff with his work ethic and production after an offseason that had him counted out.
It's hard to believe that the Patriots look to have another hidden gem on the roster with the recent rise of Marte Mapu
Vrabel was particularly pleased with how Mapu played, making sure to give him a game ball during their locker room celebration.
He spoke about how impressed he has been with the linebacker since becoming the team's head coach earlier this year, labeling him as the team's "personal protector" on special teams, which is quite a compliment for a player on a team historically known for their top-tier third unit.
“(Mapu) — our punt team has improved and he’s our personal protector — and he takes a lot of pride in that. He stays in every meeting, and he’s into it. He plays the show team. He was ready for his opportunity, made a huge play, so I was proud of him.”
Considering Mapu's interception came on a play where he subbed in for Jack Gibbens, Vrabel is not wrong about him being ready for the opportunity and making a huge play.
It's even more noteworthy that he's contributing in all aspects when he's on the field, and he's continuing to make a big impression on the coaching staff, which was reiterated by special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer on Thursday.
He emphasized how much Mapu wants to learn and get better and how detail-oriented he is, which is incredibly important given how much he is used in multiple roles on the team.
Patriots ST Coach Jeremy Springer on LB Marte Mapu:
— Patriots on CLNS (@PatriotsCLNS) September 18, 2025
“Unbelievable … he wants to know everything and as a coach you love that. He’s gonna meet with you extra. He's gonna wanna know every detail like a coach would want to know,”
Mapu received a game ball after the Pats win vs… pic.twitter.com/Q4olzcPmFK
It's early in the season, and there is a lot of football left to be played, so it will be fascinating to see if Mapu can maintain this level of production, if not, get even better as the weeks continue.
It would be a huge plus for the Patriots' defense, which hasn't been the most well-oiled unit through the first two weeks, particularly the linebackers. If Mapu can step up and make them a better group, that would be another impressive step in his young career, while also continuing to make the special teams the best group on the roster.