Pats Pulpit
Here it is at the end of 2025 and I still can’t get over the turnaround from where we were last year. The Patriots were 3-12 heading into Week 17 and fans were rooting hard for a 3-14 finish to secure the overall No. 1 seed in the draft. That plan went about as well as anything else the team tried to do that year. A win over the Bills in the final game of the season dropped them to No. 4, but I’m not complaining. This season has been the polar opposite. New England had to be really bad for a couple years and hit bottom before it could rebound — and what a glorious recovery it’s been.
Mike Vrabel, Drake Maye and company have made football fun again. Frankly, that’s pretty much all I wanted on my NFL Christmas list this year, for the Patriots to be on a solid track back to relevancy. Fans have already received so much that anything more — like snagging the AFC East title from Buffalo (so close we can touch it), maybe being the No. 1 seed in the AFC, and then winning a playoff game or two (or three) — is gravy.
Good things are all back on the table now, as the Pats prepare for a 3-12 Jets team that has lost their last 3 games by at least 23 points – and just lost QB Justin Fields to Injured Reserve. Meanwhile New England is a perfect 7-0 on the road. I have no doubt Mike Vrabel will be reminding his players about the big picture this week, needing to stay focused and not taking any wins for granted. Here’s to the Pats taking care of business at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, and I’m putting in a special request for no new injuries. Please, please, please Santa!
GO PATS!!
Around the AFC East:
New England Patriots (12-3) at New York Jets (3-12)
Buffalo Bills (11-4) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (10-5)
Miami Dolphins (6-9) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8)
AFC Matchups:
Denver Broncos (12-3) at Kansas City Chiefs (6-9)
Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4) at Indianapolis Colts (8-6)
Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6) at Cleveland Browns (3-12)
Los Angeles Chargers (11-4) vs. Houston Texans (10-5)
Baltimore Ravens (7-8) at Green Bay Packers (9-5-1)
Cincinnati Bengals (5-10) vs. Arizona Cardinals (3-12)
Tennessee Titans (3-12) vs. New Orleans Saints (5-10)
Las Vegas Raiders (2-13) vs. New York Giants (2-13)
2nd – Pete Prisco (CBS Sports): Drake Maye’s showing vs. the Ravens helps his MVP chances. Coming back from 11 points down is a good sign for this young team as they ready for the playoffs. [+2]
2nd – Eric Edholm (NFL.com): *Down 11 points in the fourth quarter, on the road, with several key players injured, Drake Maye and the Patriots refused to die. Maye caught fire in the final quarter, leading two long touchdown drives, with Rhamondre Stevenson’s TD romp giving the Pats a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. The comeback win clinched a playoff berth for...
