ClutchPoints
The New England Patriots have written one of the best and most surprising stories of the 2025 NFL season. The Patriots (10-2) have largely been a struggling team that has been at or near the bottom of the AFC East since their glory years came to an end. However, they have climbed the ladder dramatically as they will bring a 9-game winning streak into their Monday night home game against the New York Giants.
While New York (2-10) is a last place team in the NFC East, the game appears to be a potential road block for the Patriots. New England will be without rookie star left tackle Will Campbell due to an MCL sprain. Campbell will be out for at least 4 games and the Patriots will have to find a way to make up for his absence.
If Campbell can come back in the regular season, it likely won’t happen until the team’s Week 18 season finale against the Miami Dolphins. If the Patriots are fighting for homefield advantage in the AFC playoffs and the No. 1 spot in the AFC postseason structure, Campbell’s presence could be vital at that point.
Veteran Vederian Lowe will take his place on the offensive line and it will be difficult to match the high level that Campbell has been performing at. In addition to Campbell’s absence, the Patriots will also be without left guard rookie Jared Wilson at left guard. He has an ankle injury and he will not be able to play against the Giants. Ben Brown is slated to take over for Wilson.
The Giants’ greatest strength at this point is the play of their defensive line. Head coach Mike Vrabel knows that his backup performers are going to get tested by Giants pass rushers Brian Burns, Dexter Lawrence and Bobby Okereke.
“I think 57 of their 66 quarterback hits come from those guys up front,” Vrabel said, per Chad Graff of The Athletic. “Those guys are certainly impactful players that have to be accounted for every play. And they rotate them through there quite a bit, so there’s a lot of juice there and a lot of disruption.”
If the Patriots can’t protect QB Drake Maye as a result of the Campbell and Wilson injuries, it may provide future opponents with a road map of how to attack the Patriots. That’s the last thing that Vrabel wants to see.
Maye has been brilliant to this point in the season. He is a legitimate Most Valuable Player candidate and has been a huge difference maker for Vrabel’s Patriots. He has completed 252 of 355 passes for 3,130 yards with 21 touchdowns and just 6 interceptions. Maye has been sacked 37 times and has taken some big hits, and Vrabel wants to avoid having his quarterback put in a vulnerable position.
While the two rookies on the left side of...
