One person on here was calling it all offseason but then backed down off that prediction after the so-so start.
@BucciMane would be that dude right now if he held firm with the shyt talk.
I wasn't too sure what to expect of them this year. I was not completely sold on Vrabel being an elite coach or the coach that would turn it around this quickly. People here think I used to over-hype the Patriots or be a "homer" regarding them, but not ONE time in my life have I ever definitively said they would win the Super Bowl. I always say it's the NFL and any team can win on any given day. It's not college football.
With that being said:
-Vrabel has been excellent. You can see he's a players coach. Always congratulating the players after a big drive or big stop.
-The defensive additions in free-agency have been huge. Having Gonzo stay healthy have been very impactful as well.
-I had no idea what to expect with Diggs, but he has been a 10/10 addition so far. His on field performance has been great, but you have not heard ONE peep about him off the field or any sort of complaints. Then there is Mack Hollins who might be the biggest surprise to me. He has been absolutely fantastic.
-Getting Henderson going has made a difference the past few weeks.
-I don't want to over-hype or overrate Maye, but I am absolutely sold on him. I always say I don't put a lot of stock into rookie seasons and that years two and three show you more. He has been fantastic this year. Putting numbers aside, just watching him, you see it. Every time he throws a deep ball, I think a massive offensive play is coming.
Now, in regards to the strength of schedule, I understand people saying it's "weak". However, this is not college football. There are not automatic wins in the NFL. We've seen top teams lose to bottom feeders multiple times this season. The Patriots have beaten the teams they should. I'm not saying they are a juggernaut, but I think if people watched them on a weekly basis, they wouldn't keep just talking about the schedule. They are a legitimate contender. Would I favor them against a healthy Chiefs or Ravens team? I might not favor them against those two teams, but there's not another team in the AFC I wouldn't favor them against.
