3+ week, 5+ day ago (354+ words) The 2025 NFL trade deadline is just hours away, and teams around the league are making last-minute moves to improve their rosters before it's too late. The Patriots have been reportedly looking into their options at various positions, including EDGE and wide receiver, but have yet to make a trade. There is still plenty of time, and given the recent injury to Kayshon Boutte, there has been a lot of chatter suggesting a big move for a receiver could be in the works. But until that possibility becomes reality, the team chose to sign a free agent receiver instead. According to multiple NFL insiders, Brenden Rice, the son of NFL Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, is signing with New England. This seems to indicate Boutte's status for next week, confirming he will miss at least one game. The 23-year-old was a…...

3+ week, 6+ day ago (457+ words) The New England Patriots snuck by the Atlanta Falcons by the proverbial "skin of their teeth", 24-23 after a missed extra point by the Falcons. A lot went wrong, including two unusual gaffes by the soaring Drake Maye, but one aspect loomed particularly large for the listless Patriots' defense. They can't get sacks when they need them, and they have to remedy that now. The Patriots were out-sacked six to one by the Falcons in this tale of two halves. The Patriots dominated the first half until poor clock management by Mike Vrabel helped set up a Maye gaffe that ended any chance for a late score. Yet, the clear imperative for the Patriots before the 4:00 PM trade deadline on November 4th is to do whatever it takes to land a real sack producer. They have a couple of decent guys in…...

2+ week, 2+ day ago (359+ words) Mike Vrabel is only 11 regular-season games into Year 1 as head coach of the New England Patriots, and the culture shift in Foxboro has already been seismic. We might've found out the real reason why following the Patriots' 27-14 rout of the New York Jets on Thursday Night Football. Vrabel has spoken a lot about building a program this year, and he's accomplished that feat in short order. His Patriots improved to 9-2, pushed their winning streak to eight games, and now sit alone atop the AFC standings ahead of Sunday's Week 11 slate. Fans who stayed up late for the TNF postgame show learned why Vrabel " who also interviewed with the Jets in early January " wanted to return to New England to coach the Patriots. Contrary to popular belief, it goes beyond his personal relationship with owner Robert Kraft, or even the three…...

1+ day, 3+ hour ago (387+ words) A slim margin victory over the Cincinnati Bengals last week was overshadowed for the New England Patriots by a long list of injuries, some worse than others, and a notably disappointing effort by the goal line offense. Obviously, the injuries have created more headlines in the days that have followed, but the several failed attempts by the offense to score from the one-yard line have prompted many analysts and fans to be concerned for the rest of the season, especially now that the playoffs are creeping up. Making matters worse are the injuries to two starting linemen, rookies Will Campbell and Jared Wilson, both of whom will miss Monday Night's game against the Giants, which will only make their efforts to get into the endzone that much harder. So, of course, Josh McDaniels was asked about the glaring issue earlier…...

2+ week, 4+ day ago (364+ words) The New England Patriots emerged from training camp this summer with one of the youngest 53-man rosters in the NFL. The leadership and play of wide receiver Stefon Diggs has been impossible to ignore through 10 games. He seems to be getting better with each passing week, and that's a scary proposition for the NFL, given the rapid ascension of quarterback Drake Maye." The Patriots have gotten a similar jolt from linebacker Robert Spillane, who's become an irreplaceable piece for Mike Vrabel's defense. The 29-year-old has already piled up 81 total tackles, which ranks top-10 in the NFL. He also ranks sixth among 86 qualifying linebackers in Pro Football Focus' rush defense grade. Similar to Diggs on offense, when Spillane speaks, Patriots fans should be listening. The veteran delivered a quote following Sunday's 28-23 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that speaks to how…...

1+ week, 5+ day ago (401+ words) The New England Patriots moved to 9-2 on the year after beating the New York Jets on TNF, and for good reason, certain players will get most of the focus. Stefon Diggs has over 100 yards, TreVeyon Henderson had three touchdowns, and rookie UDFA Elijah Ponder had his second consecutive game with a sack. It was an impressive performance that saw the Patriots win 27-14, but a more under-the-radar factor was at play to hold the Jets at bay. Keeping the Jets' offensive production to a minimum isn't all that difficult to do. They've been held to 22 points or less six times through nine games, and their offense ranks 25th in PPG overall. Justin Fields was just benched for Tyrod Taylor this week, and he's had four games with less than 55 passing yards this year. Breece Hall has some impressive games, but he managed…...

2+ week, 5+ day ago (393+ words) You have to give Mike Vrabel credit. He's pulling all the right levers for the New England Patriots, who enter Week 11 on a seven-game win streak, still tied atop the conference with an 8-2 record." Sunday's marquee road win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was just the latest example. Vrabel and the Patriots heard it from fans and media last week after standing pat at the NFL trade deadline, but the team responded with one of its most complete performances of the season, leaving Raymond James Stadium with a 28-23 win. Two things can be true: The Patriots believe they have a team that can compete with anybody in the NFL; they also understand where they are, still midway through Year 1 of Vrabel's tenure with an eye on building something sustainable for the future. As for how close the Patriots really came…...

2+ week, 2+ day ago (357+ words) Depending on who you ask, the resurgence of the New England Patriots is the feel-good story of the 2025 NFL campaign. Much of the excitement has rightfully centered around second-year quarterback Drake Maye's elevation from rising star to shortlist MVP candidate. Albeit uber talented, Maye's breakout doesn't happen without a strong supporting cast surrounding him, and he's not afraid to admit it. The 2024 No. 3 overall pick expressed gratitude for his teammates following the Patriots' 27-14 win over the New York Jets, namely Stefon Diggs. Maye sounded particularly thankful to have a proven alpha wide receiver like Diggs at his disposal. The signal-caller put the remarkable level of belief he has in his top target on the field into words after beating the Jets. Yet, that confidence far predates the budding tandem's overlap in Foxborough. Diggs put in nearly a decade of work…...

8+ hour, 43+ min ago (390+ words) If anyone predicted before the start of the 2025 season that the New England Patriots would be a playoff-bound team at any point, never mind heading into Week 13, there are not many people who would believe them. In fact, most projections had them missing the postseason and just barely improving their previous season record. They accomplished that by being the first team with 10 wins with their victory over the Bengals last week, and hope to improve that against the Giants on Monday Night. It will move them one step closer not only to the playoffs but also to winning the AFC East for the first time since the 2019 season, a feat the Bills were sure wouldn't happen any time soon. Instead, that's the reality, and Buffalo is hoping it can win enough games over the last month of the season to…...

1+ week, 3+ day ago (380+ words) The New England Patriots are in the midst of preparing for their Week 12 clash against the Bengals on the road in hopes of continuing their current 8-game win streak. Since beating the Jets last Thursday night, it looked like their upcoming opponent would be without their starting quarterback, and over the last two days, it was made official that they would also be without WR Ja'Marr Chase. Their absences immediately made the Patriots the bigger favorites heading into the game, despite backup QB Joe Flacco impressing while Joe Burrow has been sidelined due to an injury. But now that might not be the case, as the Bengals released their latest injury report on Wednesday, showing that Burrow was a full participant in practice for the first time in several weeks, hinting that he is likely to return to the field…...