New England Patriots - NESN.com
Like every other NFL contender, the New England Patriots have ways to get better down the stretch.
The 12-3 Patriots can exclaim a breakthrough 2025 season by winning the AFC East on Sunday, but that doesn’t mean they’re perfect. Several players identified different areas of improvement to address entering Week 17, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss.
Drake Maye wants to make sure the Patriots don’t take their foot off the gas following a massive Week 16 comeback win over the Baltimore Ravens. The quarterback is working with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to keep making strides, even during good times.
“Coach McDaniels has talked to me about improving and getting better in practice as you reach the end of the season and reach the playoff time,” Maye said. “That translates to the game. So it’s really big on continuing a little winning streak these last couple games, heading into the playoffs feeling good about ourselves, and feeling like we’ve still got some work to do.”
Right guard Mike Onwenu hopes to see sustained success from an improved running game that’s climbed to 16th amid a late-season spark from rookie TreVeyon Henderson.
“It’s there, it’s just the consistency,” Onwenu said. “As we get into the season, there’s more tape and every team is going to scheme and watch our plays, and formations, and what runs we tend to do. Over the past few weeks, a lot of the linebackers just running through are running fast over the top — kind of taking us off our double-teams or making us not able to double-team as long. Just staying spotted up, making sure we communicate, and going to the right guys.”
Linebacker Christian Elliss identified New England’s kick-return coverage as a focal point after Ray Davis took four kickoffs for 164 yards in the Buffalo Bills’ Week 15 victory.
“We put our defense in a tough spot, allowing them past the 50 three times with a short field,” Elliss said. “We need to make sure we’re supporting the defense better.”
The Patriots once boasted the NFL’s top-ranked rushing defense, not allowing 50 rushing yards in a game to a running back until Week 10. However, that dominance has diminished with defensive tackle Milton Williams sidelined.
Defensive tackle Cory Durden wants his unit to bounce back after allowing over 100 rushing yards to James Cook and Derrick Henry in consecutive games.
“These last few weeks, teams have been finding success on us, so just getting back to how we were doing it effectively earlier [in the season] — team defense,” Durden said. “The mentality is still the same, it’s just execution.”
Meanwhile, safety Craig Woodson singled out New England’s bottom-ranked red-zone defense. Opponents have scored touchdowns on 74.3 percent of their trips inside the 20 this season.
“Not that teams are getting down there that much, but when they do, we have to get a stop,” Woodson said. “We have to be good on our communication and execution. And then it’s making plays, because honestly there...
