The New England Patriots are finally back. They hadn’t been a serious contender – or even a playoff-caliber team – since Tom Brady left, and it became painfully evident that they needed a different direction.
Notably, Mike Vrabel didn’t need a lot of time to prove that he was the right guy to lead this team back to the mountaintop. They have found their quarterback of the future, but their defense has finally looked as dominant as it was in the past.
As a matter of fact, they’ve already done something that Bill Belichick was never able to do. As ESPN insider Adam Schefter revealed on X, this team’s defensive dominance against the run is almost unprecedented:
“Heading into today’s game vs. the Buccaneers, the Patriots have not allowed an opposing running back to reach 50 rushing yards in a game this season – the only team to do so through the first nine games of a season since 1950,” Schefter posted on X.
Heading into today’s game vs. the Buccaneers, the Patriots have not allowed an opposing running back to reach 50 rushing yards in a game this season – the only team to do so through the first nine games of a season since 1950. pic.twitter.com/JLbMEClmmm
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 9, 2025
Whenever you force a team to be one-dimensional, you will have a huge chance to win. You’re pretty much dictating what the other team has to do, and once you’ve brought them into your turf, you will have an edge.
That’s what this team is doing right now. They’re essentially challenging opposing teams to sling the football, and they’re also quite efficient against the pass. More than that, they’re taking away a team’s ability to establish the run, win the time-of-possession battle, and just impose their will on the field.
The Patriots have been through a lot since Brady left. But after years of struggles and disappointment, it finally seems that they’re ready to return not only to the playoffs but also to the final game of the season.
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