A Strong Start for the New England Patriots

Keegan McLeod

Staff Writer

As of the end of week two, the Patriots look like an improved team from a year ago. Mike Vrabel seems to have already established a positive culture in which the players respect and want to play for him.

The biggest storyline heading into the season was the anticipation of quarterback Drake Maye taking the next step to become the player he has shown flashes of becoming. So far, he has looked better for sure, but still prone to make mistakes associated with a young player at the position, with a bad pick in week one and taking seven sacks so far. T

he offensive line was one of the biggest question marks going into the year, and it has shown mixed results after two games. The pass protection has been solid despite the sack numbers, and the run blocking has been spotty. The Patriots defense leads the league in sacks as of week two with nine total.

Linebacker Harold Landry is off to a blazing hot start to his year with three and a half sacks and four tackles for loss across just two games, while defensive tackle, Milton Williams, is proving himself worthy of his massive contract with two sacks and three tackles for loss himself. The run defense and pass rush have been stout thus far, but there are clear problems on the back end. The Patriots surely miss their young superstar cornerback Christian Gonzalez as he recovers from a minor hamstring injury.

One play in particular stands out in week one against the Raiders when Geno Smith sailed a deep pass to secure a critical late first down, as two Patriots defenders were caught off guard. If Gonzalez was in, that is a ball that could have easily been picked off, and could have possibly changed the outcome. Figuring out the safety position has been another concern after the mysterious release of Jabrill Peppers.

Rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson is yet to crack one hundred total yards after flashing his athletic ability in the preseason. A big reason for this though is Rhamondre Stevenson’s impressive performance in week two against the Dolphins, proving he can still be relied on as a lead back. Receiver Kayshon Boutte has continued to establish himself as Maye’s most trusted target in the passing game, while veterans Stefon Diggs and Hunter Henry have put up solid numbers as well.

In all, a respectable eight and nine record this season seems to be a realistic forecast for this team under a new head coach and with new players in key positions. That would double the win total from last year and leave the loud Boston media satisfied with lots to look forward to in 2026.