"He rebuilt a dismal offensive line to at least an NFL-capable level, added wide receivers who could perform, and an explosive running back, who allowed Maye to flourish. Meanwhile, on defense, Vrabel added more and better players to a lackluster group. In their first playoff game, that D showed its mettle by holding the LA Chargers and their top quarterback, Justin Herbert, to just three points."
"Racking up a 14 -3 record in any NFL season is an achievement, no matter what the naysayers tried to make of a so-called "soft schedule". By beating Buffalo and Tampa Bay earlier on the road and now knocking the Chargers out of the playoffs, the Patriots have put all that malarkey to rest, no matter what else happens going forward. And now, the oddsmakers see it differently, as well."
A year earlier the New England Patriots endured a second straight 4–13 season and fired a first-year head coach. Mike Vrabel was hired on January 12, 2025, and prioritized exploiting 22-year-old quarterback Drake Maye's franchise potential. He rebuilt a dismal offensive line to an NFL-capable level, added productive wide receivers and an explosive running back to complement Maye, and upgraded defensive personnel. In the first playoff game the defense held Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers to three points while sacking Herbert six times. The team finished 14–3, beat Buffalo, Tampa Bay and the Chargers, and DraftKings now lists the Patriots as AFC Super Bowl favorites.
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