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The New England Patriots are gaining widespread recognition as respectable contenders within the NFL this season. A lot of that perception stems from head coach Mike Vrabel’s strategic method and quarterback Drake Maye’s accelerated growth in his second 12 months.
New England seems to be an entire workforce underneath Vrabel’s management, with an emphasis on situational soccer, clock administration, and tactical execution that has yielded constant outcomes.
FS1 analyst Nick Wright just lately shared his evaluation of the AFC hierarchy throughout a phase of First Issues First. He didn’t hesitate to put the Patriots instantly behind the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs in his present rankings.
“(The Patriots) are going to be the one seed within the AFC. I consider, however that’s conjecture, clearly. What I do know is, for me, I’ll choose them to win any AFC playoff recreation they play, apart from, in opposition to the Chiefs. I feel they’re legitimately, proper now, the second-best workforce within the AFC,” Wright stated.
.@getnickwright thinks the Patriots are the 2nd-best workforce within the AFC 👀
“I’ll choose them to win any AFC playoff recreation they play, apart from in opposition to the Chiefs.” pic.twitter.com/e3PDDkDOFX
— First Issues First (@FTFonFS1) November 14, 2025
New England has proven the flexibility to win video games in a number of methods all through the season. Maye has posted statistical performances that examine favorably to a number of elite quarterbacks, together with Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Lamar Jackson.
Vrabel has established a tradition constructed on day by day accountability, disciplined preparation, and constant execution throughout all three phases. These requirements mirror the organizational id that outlined New England’s earlier period of success.
The Patriots turned the primary workforce to achieve 9 wins this season after defeating the New York Jets on Thursday night time. That victory positioned them forward of the idle Indianapolis Colts within the race for the AFC’s high seed.
New England has not received the division since 2019 and has not secured the convention’s No. 1 playoff place since 2017. Sustaining their present standing will even rely on outcomes from different contenders over the approaching weeks.
