Expectations in New England have been through the roof for the majority of the last 25 years, and that has continued even in the post-Tom Brady and Bill Belichick years. Although those seasons haven't been too kind to the Patriots, the fans and the media haven't lowered their standards for what football should be in Foxboro, which only heightened once Mike Vrabel was hired this offseason.
Another disappointing year in 2024 under Jerod Mayo inevitably put a lot of pressure on Vrabel's shoulders, and that has also shifted to Drake Maye. His impressive rookie season, which officially began in Week 6, set him up to be on track for a major second-year jump, which we haven't seen from him just yet.