Copyright MassLive
FOXBOROUGH – Throughout the last few weeks, the Patriots have been a team climbing up national power rankings while Drake Maye’s name has been mentioned in MVP conversations. In his first season as head coach of the Patriots, Mike Vrabel has this franchise off to their best start since 2021 with an ascending quarterback and tenacious defense. After hanging on a slim 24-23 win over the Atlanta Falcons, the 7-2 Patriots find themselves tied for the best record in the conference. From the outside, it looks like things are more than alright inside Gillette Stadium. Inside the locker room, however, players have downplayed the success. In an act reminiscent of past Patriots teams, this 2025 squad says they leave each game hungry. That was easy to do after an uneven afternoon in Foxborough. “It’s still early in the season. We’re at the halfway point. We’re in a good spot. Could we be better? Hell yeah,” receiver Stefon Diggs said. “When it’s early in the season, people come up with all these rankings. Don’t drink the Kool-Aid. That (expletive) will get you distracted.” As impressive as the start of the Vrabel era has been, it’s even more promising the way his players reacted following Sunday’s win. When Vrabel was hired, he said he wanted to change the culture. Closing in on the midway point of this season, it’s easy to see that the players on this roster have built in. That’s clear on both sides of the ball. On defense, Patriots defensive linemen were excited to face Pro Bowl running back Bijan Robinson. After the game, they could be heard expressing their disappointment that the Falcons opted against running Robinson through their line, instead focusing on outside zone runs to avoid Milton Williams and Christian Barmore. In one offseason, Vrabel has built a tight-knit defensive unit that is closing in on an NFL record. Through nine games, the Patriots haven’t allowed an opposing running back to hit 50 rushing yards. Robinson, who averaged 78.4 yards per game, finished with 46 on Sunday. The NFL record is 10, set by Tampa Bay in 2020. Despite the success, Williams said he’ll leave Gillette Stadium wanting more. “We’re trying to dominate every week. That’s what we’re trying to do,” Williams said. “If we don’t do that, we feel like we could’ve done more. How many points did they have? 23? That’s too much. We’ve got to be better next week and be ready for that challenge.” On offense, it appeared as though Maye and the Patriots would dominate the Falcons. They were up 21-7 and looking to extend their lead before the half when Maye fumbled. That turnover, the first of two, changed the tide of Sunday’s game. The Patriots offense fought but mustered only three points in the second half. In this game, the Patriots gave the Falcons too many opportunities to take control. In the second half, Maye had an interception that led to a Falcons field goal. Then, a Patriots three-and-out was followed by another Atlanta touchdown That’s when kicker Parker Romo missed the extra point, which would’ve tied the game. The back-and-forth, stomach-turning second half was intense. In the end, they held on for the win. Players said it brought them closer together. “I think just enjoy the wins and know deep down I’m frustrated and I want some plays back,” Maye said. “But that’s a good defense we faced, and those guys in that locker room are cool to be around and play with.” “I can’t wait for Wednesday to keep going,” Barmore added. “We have the offense’s back. They have our back. We’re brothers. We’re all going to play together. We’re all a family. The Patriots have won six straight games, marking the franchise’s longest winning streak since 2021. Vrabel has his players playing for each other and hungry for more. After Sunday’s win, Patriots players were already talking about a big game coming up with Tampa Bay. “It’s a fun group to coach because I think that they’re going to always want more. They are receptive to the coaching,” Vrabel said. “They give us everything they’ve got. We’re nine games in. We practice hard, and we play beat up, we’re going on the road. I’m glad and appreciative of everything that they’ve given us thus far halfway through the season.” This new era in Patriots football is off to a great start. With eight games left in the season, the team is in position to get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2021. They could be in position to host a playoff game inside Gillette Stadium for the first time since 2019, when a then-Vrabel-led Tennessee squad upset them. Six years later, Vrabel is back in New England as a first-year coach, leading a group of players who believe in him. So far, the results have been special. Just don’t expect players to drink the Kool-Aid just yet. “Because it’s poison. It’s easy to drink the Kool-Aid and think the world of yourself,” Diggs said. “And you should be joyful that you’re getting these wins. But don’t fall in the trap of thinking you’re too good. My OG used to tell me all the time, ‘Don’t ever think you’re too cute.’ Part of that is don’t drink the Kool-Aid, stay focused on what’s in front of you, and stay hungry. We’re in a good spot, but it can be taken from us at any given time. Just stay hungry.”
