If Mike Vrabel could draw up the perfect scenario through the first third of the 2025 regular season, this would be it for his New England Patriots.
Second-year quarterback Drake Maye is ascending into elite territory. The defense is developing a bend-but-don’t-break mentality with just about everyone on that side of the ball contributing. The franchise has managed to turn its two biggest weaknesses of the past several years — left tackle and wide receiver — into positions of strength.
Oh, and the team is 4-2, off to its best start since Tom Brady’s Patriots opened 8-0 during the 2019 regular season.