Patriots' Head Coach Mike Vrabel's stated goal is to win the AFC East division. While that is a lofty goal for 2025, making the playoffs may not be. Vrabel's revamping of the Patriots roster has put them in a far better position to challenge for a Wild Card spot and maybe more.
Vrabel added as many as three or four starters to the Patriots' dismal 2024 offensive line in free agency and the draft. That included the draft's fourth-overall pick, LSU's left tackle Will Campbell, who will start immediately, and veterans Morgan Moses and Garrett Bradbury.
In addition, he remodeled a defense that had fallen precipitously from two years before to a shadow of its former self. Upgrades came at all levels of the defense. Now, both the offense and defense are loaded with playmakers. These changes bode well for a playoff run in 2025, and Bleacher Report offers a brief look at how it could happen.
Bleacher Report offers a scenario for the Patriots to make the playoffs
In an article called "1 Sentence Scenario for Every Team to Make 2025 NFL Playoffs", Bleacher Report's Brad Gagnon offers a sentence on how each NFL team can make the playoffs, or the "Tournament", what former Patriots' Head Coach Bill Parcells used to call it.
"Drake Maye avoids a sophomore slump thanks in part to a bolstered supporting cast, and the Dolphins implode again."
Any NFL team's destiny will ride on the shoulders of its quarterback. Tom Brady dominated the NFL for two decades, with most of that time spent with the Patriots. In 2024, the Pats invested the third overall pick in the NFL draft on Drake Maye and have never looked back.
Maye is the real deal, and after a solid performance in 2024 with little support, Vrabel's offensive rebuild has now given him the wherewithal to take his game and the team to higher levels. In addition to revamping his offensive line almost completely, Vrabel has also added major offensive firepower to Maye's arsenal.
He added two solid free-agent receivers in former Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs and the steady playmaking big target, Mack Hollins. In addition, he drafted the electric receiver Kyle Williams from Washington State in a third-round steal. Williams is a home run hitter who can take the top off a defense on any given play.
Vrabel drafted a similar player in Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson. He also has take-it-to-the-house potential on every snap. Williams and Henderson provide an essential ingredient, explosiveness, that was almost totally lacking in the 2024 Patriots' offense. This offense is playoff-worthy, and Maye will lead the way in 2025 with another Pro Bowl-level season.
The Patriots will benefit as the Dolphins implode again
As Brad Gagnon suggests, it may take a Dolphins implosion for the Patriots to make the playoffs. That certainly would help. The inconsistent Dolphins are always a threat with Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback. He's an explosive playmaker and has been Kryptonite to the Patriots.
Mike Vrabel's defensive rebuild will help that Dolphins implosion along. Vrabel added top playmakers at defensive tackle, Milton Williams; edge, Harold Landry III; linebacker, Robert Spillane; and cornerback, Carlton Davis III. All will start and be major upgrades over the 2024 players they'll replace.
Added to Christian Barmore, Keion White, Christian Elliss, and All-Pro cornerback, Christian Gonzalez, no opposing offense will have an easy time against the 2025 Patriots defense. The days of laid-back Patriots defenses are over. They'll now reflect Vrabel's attacking style that forces the play and makes plays, rather than just reacting.
Expect Drake Maye's 2025 offense to soar with his now-capable supporting cast. He'll suffer no "sophomore slump". In addition, Mike Vrabel's new defense will stifle Tua Tagovailoa's offense and help force another Dolphins implosion. Expect the Patriots to move up to second place in the AFC East, leapfrogging the Dolphins and the Jets on the way to the 2025 NFL playoffs.
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