"Even if Vrabel's sentiment stands in the first season of what was viewed as a multi-year rebuild, the circumstances have certainly changed in short order. Entering a long-awaited bye week, the Patriots currently sit atop the NFL with an 11-2 record - one buoyed by a 10-game win streak. And with the AFC wide-open this fall following the decline of established powers like the Chiefs, Ravens, and Bills, the road is there for New England to go on a sustained run in January and February."
"Be it Drake Maye's emergence as a legitimate MVP candidate or a myriad of other factors, The Athletic currently has New England with a 16 percent chance of winning the Super Bowl - the best odds in the NFL. ESPN's Football Power Index currently tabs New England with a 15.3 percent chance of playing in Super Bowl LX, and a 6.2 percent shot of winning the whole thing. So far, there's been little to dispel from the notion that New England has the means to make some noise in the coming months. But if the Patriots want to make good on their promise as a viable Cinderella club this winter, there are a few red flags that Vrabel's team must solve down the stretch before the true challenges await in the postseason."
The Patriots entered their bye week leading the NFL at 11-2, fueled by a 10-game winning streak and newfound offensive momentum. Head coach Mike Vrabel emphasized patience and program-building after a quiet trade deadline and a reluctance to trade draft capital for win-now assets. Drake Maye has emerged as a legitimate MVP candidate, and oddsmakers now give New England strong Super Bowl odds. The AFC has opened up with declines from traditional powers, creating a path for New England. Critical weaknesses remain, notably red-zone execution, that must be resolved before the postseason.
Read at Boston.com
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