New England Patriots - NESN.com
Numerous NFL pundits drew the same conclusion from the New England Patriots’ latest win: They’re back.
The Patriots, who won eight combined games over the last two seasons, jumped to 8-2 with Sunday’s 28-23 road win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A team that entered the year as a trendy playoff sleeper is now garnering national attention as a legitimate title contender.
Rich Eisen, an avid New York Jets fan, joined the chorus of impressed observers when discussing New England’s Week 10 victory on his ESPN-syndicated radio show.
“The New England Patriots are not only back, but they’re one of the best teams in the National Football League,” Eisen said on Monday. “And, without question, through 10 weeks into this National Football League campaign, a highly viable Super Bowl-winning team.”
Eisen needed time before he was sold, but he’s now convinced the Patriots are for real after watching Drake Maye lead another win in a game that wasn’t up to his MVP-caliber standards. The 23-year-old posted his lowest quarterback rating (89.4) since Week 1 and worst completion percentage (51.6) of the season, but Maye continued to connect on pinpoint deep throws.
“They got a quarterback who’s not only better than most, but could be the best in the National Football League at the end of the day in Year 2,” Eisen declared.
The betting markets appear to agree that it’s time to take the Patriots seriously. They jumped to the 10th-best odds to win the Super Bowl, and that line could shorten if Maye and Mike Vrabel remain respective favorites for MVP and Coach of the Year.
ESPN’s Football Power Index gives New England a 94.7 percent chance to make the playoffs, 70.6 percent chance to win the AFC East, and 9.5 percent chance to make the Super Bowl.
