The vibe in Foxborough has changed. It's night and day compared to the dreary atmosphere of 2024. Back then, the Jerod Mayo era felt like it was stuck in mud before it even got off the ground. Now? The New England Patriots team is preparing for a Divisional Round playoff matchup against the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium this Sunday. It's a surreal 180-degree flip.
Honestly, nobody saw this coming a year ago. After a 4-13 finish that led to Mayo being fired after just one season, Robert Kraft had to make a move that felt both nostalgic and desperate. He brought back Mike Vrabel. It was a "coming home" story that actually worked.
Vrabel didn't just bring his Tennessee playbook. He brought a certain edge that the locker room was missing. But let's be real: coaching matters, but having a transcendent quarterback matters more.
The Drake Maye Leap
If you're looking for the biggest reason the Patriots went from worst to first in the AFC East, look at number 10. Drake Maye's 2025 season was, quite frankly, ridiculous.
He didn't just improve. He basically broke the league for a few weeks.
In Week 17 against the Jets, Maye completed 90.5% of his passes. That's not a typo. He went 19-of-21 for 256 yards and five touchdowns. No quarterback in NFL history had ever hit the 90% completion mark while throwing for five scores and 250+ yards in a single game. He ended the regular season with 4,394 passing yards, 31 touchdowns, and only 8 interceptions.
The kid is 23. He plays like he’s 35.
He’s not just a pocket statue, either. He finished the season with 422 scramble yards, which puts him near the top of the league for QBs. When the pocket collapses, he doesn't panic; he just finds a lane. It's that specific blend of "golden arm" and "track star" that has New England fans thinking about another Super Bowl run.
Mike Vrabel’s Culture Shift
Vrabel is different from Belichick, and he’s definitely different from Mayo. He’s more of a "player's coach," but not in the way that means he's soft. He’s blunt.
During a press conference on January 16, 2026, ahead of the Texans game, he was asked about playing a "perfect" game. His response was classic Vrabel: "We haven't talked one time about being perfect since I've been here. We're aiming for success and not perfection."
That mindset has trickled down. You can see it in guys like Robert Spillane, who has become the heart of the defense. Or Jahlani Tavai, who won the Ed Block Courage Award this year after battling back from a training camp injury to become a defensive anchor.
🔗 Read more: What Time Do the Pacers Play Today? Your January 18 Schedule Update
The coaching staff Vrabel assembled is a "Who's Who" of guys who have been in the fire.
- Josh McDaniels (Offensive Coordinator): Back again, and it turns out he still knows how to build an offense around a young star.
- Terrell Williams (Defensive Coordinator): Brought over from the Titans to run a 3-4 system that has given up only 18.8 points per game.
- Doug Marrone (Offensive Line): He has turned a once-leaky unit into a wall that allowed Maye to lead the league in passer rating (113.5).
Why the New England Patriots Team Still Matters
People love to hate the Patriots. It’s part of the NFL's DNA at this point. But this version of the team is harder to hate because they aren't the "Evil Empire" anymore. They’re a redemption story.
The roster is a mix of high-priced veterans and cheap, high-upside youth. Stefon Diggs joined the WR room and provided the veteran presence Maye needed. Then you have Christian Gonzalez, who is blossoming into a true shutdown corner, even if he’s currently battling through the concussion protocol (though the team says he’s good to go for Sunday).
There's also Marcus Jones. The man is a human highlight reel on special teams. He earned 2nd-team All-Pro honors as a punt returner this year. In a league where field position is everything, having a guy who can flip the field in six seconds is a cheat code.
The Roster Shuffle Before the Texans Game
Playoff football is about depth. The Patriots just activated CB Alex Austin from IR. He’s been out since Week 12 with a wrist injury. He’s mostly a special teams guy, but in January at Gillette, those are the guys who make the tackle that wins the game.
They also elevated RB D'Ernest Johnson and DT Leonard Taylor III from the practice squad. Johnson actually saw action in the Wild Card win against the Chargers last week. It’s these small, "unsexy" moves that Eliot Wolf (the de facto GM) has been nailing all year.
What the Critics Get Wrong
A lot of people think this 14-3 record is a fluke because of a "soft schedule."
That’s nonsense.
They beat the Dolphins twice. They handled the Bengals in Cincinnati. They went into Baltimore in Week 16 and walked away with a 28-24 win. You don't get 14 wins in the NFL by accident. The defense ranks 4th in the league in points allowed, and the offense ranks 2nd in points scored. That’s the definition of a balanced team.
The 10-win improvement from last year matches the highest in league history, tying the '98 Colts and '08 Dolphins. It’s a historic turnaround, fueled by a coach who knows how to win and a quarterback who refuses to lose.
📖 Related: Finding the Best NCAA Fillable Bracket 2025: How to Survive March Madness Without the Paper Headache
Actionable Insights for the Divisional Round
If you're watching the game this Sunday or following the team's trajectory, keep these three things in focus:
- Watch the Single-High Safety: The Texans run single-high coverages at the 9th highest rate in the NFL. Drake Maye is currently PFF’s 3rd highest-graded QB against that specific look. If Houston doesn't adjust, Maye will feast on deep balls to Stefon Diggs and DeMario Douglas.
- Pressure vs. Scramble: Houston has a top-3 pressure rate. Normally, that’s a good thing. Against Maye, it might be a trap. He leads the league in scramble yards when pressured. If the Texans’ ends over-pursue, Maye is going to rip off 20-yard gains with his legs.
- Special Teams Field Position: Marcus Jones and Bryce Baringer (the punter) have been the "silent killers" all season. In what is expected to be a frigid, windy day in Foxborough, the kicking game and return yardage will likely determine who advances to the AFC Championship.
The Patriots aren't just a team in transition anymore. They are a legitimate Super Bowl contender with a roster that has finally found its identity under Mike Vrabel and Drake Maye.