Baltimore Beatdown
Welcome back to another edition of 5 Questions, a weekly collaboration with other SB Nation sites to preview the Ravens’ upcoming matchups. This week, the Ravens are playing the New England Patriots, so Tayor Kyles of Pats Pulpit is on hand to answer Baltimore Beatdown’s questions about Week 16.
And, check out Baltimore Beatdown’s responses to Pat Pulpit’s questions about the Ravens!
1. Mike Vrabel has undoubtedly brought his brand of football to New England. How does the team differ from last year under Jerod Mayo and are there similarities to Bill Belichick’s regime?
Jerod Mayo brought a more empathetic approach to coaching than his predecessor, but was ultimately unprepared for the role. Mike Vrabel has taken a similar approach when it comes to building relationships, but he’s also brought vision, experience, and a hands-on approach, all of which were lacking late season. As a result, the team is more resilient and well-coordinated, and they’re closer on and off the field than I’ve seen during my three years on the beat.
Vrabel is much more personable than Bill Belichick, but he has a similarly impressive acumen for the game and can coach any position. The toughness, versatility, and awareness Vrabel showed as a player have carried over to his coaching, and it’s evident in how his team operates.
2. In that same vein, how has Eli Wolf’s roster-building strategy different from past Patriots teams, and how has that shown up on the field this season?
Eliot Wolf’s 2025 draft has been night and day different from his 2024 class. Outside of Drake Maye, last season’s group lacked maturity and NFL-caliber play-making ability. As a result, most players from before Vrabel’s time are no longer with the team.
This season, the Patriots have gotten over half a dozen starters and multiple key contributors from their draft class. Belichick failed to sufficiently address offensive tackle or wide receiver toward the end of his tenure, and eye for kickers seemed to fade. That wasn’t the case this offseason, as New England reshaped the entire left side of its offensive line with rookies Will Campbell and Jared Wilson, added a speedster at receiver in Kyle Williams, and selected an impressively consistent kicker in Andy Borregales. TreVeyon Henderson’s home run ability also breaks the mold of traditional Belichick running backs, and the former Buckeye has been a game-changer since Week 10.
Overall, this year’s emphasis on explosiveness, character, and mental toughness have been key to the team’s quick turnaround.
3. Drake Maye has emerged as an MVP candidate and TreyVeon Henderson is the odds-on favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year. Do you think they can take home the hardware?
I think Drake Maye’s inconsistency over the past month of the season could contribute to him falling short. His accuracy has been erratic at times, and he’s coming off his worst game as a pro. All that said, Maye’s done an incredible job nipping bad habits in the bud, and he’s still good for...
