"Every time I watch this Patriots' team, I get flashbacks to 2001. No, I'm not comparing Drake Maye to Tom Brady. That's unfair. But the makeup and mentality of this team mirrors that of New England's first championship team. These Patriots play gritty, complementary football. Maye is a second-year quarterback with superstar potential. The Patriots' defense is a blue-collar unit resembling the attitude of their head coach. It's no accident that the unit has yet to allow a 100-yard rusher this season."
"In the heyday of the New England Patriots, Bill Belichick never liked to take stock in power rankings. Numbers and analytics are useful for fans and even the media, but players know that games are not played on paper. But is it time to start taking this group of Patriots seriously as a serious contender? FOX Sports' Bucky Brooks tends to think so."
The New England Patriots have strung together six straight wins, including a gritty 24-23 victory over the Atlanta Falcons, prompting a jump in national power rankings. The roster features emerging quarterback Drake Maye and a scrappy, blue-collar defense that has not allowed a 100-yard rusher this season. The team emphasizes complementary football and execution, finding ways to win even when performances are unpolished. Comparisons to the 2001 Patriots focus on makeup and mentality rather than individual players. The Buffalo Bills remain close in the AFC East and rankings, leaving the divisional race still very much contested.
Read at Musket Fire
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]