#new-england-patriots

#new-england-patriots

The New England Patriots are one of the top teams in the NFL this season, entering Week 12 with a league-best 9-2 record. Mike Vrabel has quickly turned things around, and Drake Maye has made a phenomenal second-year leap. There's not much to complain about in New England, but the team still has to navigate inevitable hiccups like injuries. One injury the Patriots are currently trying to navigate is Milton Williams' high ankle sprain.

The New England Patriots have been consistently tied to nearly every available top wide receiver over the last five years, whether it be during free agency or ahead of the trade deadline. That's no different, even this season, despite having a receiving corps outperforming all expectations, led by Kayshon Boutte and Stefon Diggs. It explains why there will inevitably be an interest in former WR1 Brandin Cooks, who requested his release from the New Orleans Saints this week, and is now headed to waivers.

Throughout much of the months leading to the 2025 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots were connected to two of the most highly-touted players of the incoming class: left tackle Will Campbell and pass rusher Abdul Carter. They needed upgrades at both positions, so fans quickly took an interest in both players. But the excitement of a game-wrecking pass rusher led many to desire Carter to be the team's No. 4 overall pick, if he were to somehow fall into their lap.

"Let them enjoy a win on a short week," Vrabel said after Thursday's 27-14 win over New York. "Like I told them, I'm excited we're 9-2. I'm excited that I don't have to see them until Monday."

Conner, a sixth-round pick from Texas, has yet to debut as a rookie after suffering a knee injury in the preseason. The Cardinals placed Conner on IR with a return designation when they trimmed their roster to 53 players on Aug. 26. Now that Conner's back at practice, the Cardinals will have 21 days to activate him. Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson will miss Thursday's game against the Jets with a toe injury,

ESPN Eliminator Challenge is one of the most fun games to play this NFL season. The rules are simple: pick one team, and as long as they win (or tie), you advance to the next round. If they lose, you are out. The caveat is you cannot pick the same team twice. If you've made it this far, give yourself a pat on the back.

After shipping out Kyle Dugger, Keion White and Ja'Lynn Polk for some modest draft compensation, the Patriots felt like a team poised to add to a roster that's extremely thin around the edges. That didn't happen. Head coach Mike Vrabel acknowledged that conversations took place, both internally and externally, but insinuated that his team wasn't all that close to making a move before last week's deadline.

The New England Patriots picked up a big win on Sunday, defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 28-23. With the win, New England moved to 8-2, which is tied for the best record in the NFL. If the playoffs started today, the Patriots would be the No. 3 seed in the AFC, only behind the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos. Despite this reality, not everyone is a believer in New England.