The New England Patriots are back on top-at least for now. Their decisive 27-14 victory over the New York Jets on Thursday Night Football marked the team’s eighth consecutive win, boosting their record to an NFL-leading 9-2. If the Kansas City Chiefs (5-4) beat the Denver Broncos (8-2) on Sunday, New England will officially be in sole possession of first place in the league standings for the first time since 2017.
This resurgence is an admirable feat, especially for Head Coach Mike Vrabel in his inaugural year. He has already secured one more win than the Patriots managed in their last two seasons combined (8). The last time the Patriots finished with the best record in the league was in 2017, a season that saw Tom Brady win his final regular-season MVP and guide the team to the second of three consecutive Super Bowl appearances-though they ultimately lost that year to the Eagles.
Drake Maye’s MVP Surge Meets Schedule Reality Check
The Patriots’ success is significantly fueled by second-year quarterback Drake Maye, who at 23, currently leads the league in passing yards (2,836) and completion percentage (71.9%). His stellar performance has rightfully placed him in the conversation for MVP. While New England has undeniably done its job, overcoming a slow 1-2 start, the reality is that their success has been dramatically boosted by a historically soft schedule.
The team is set to play 11 games against the 10 worst teams in the NFL this season. Of their 11 games played so far, the Patriots have faced only two teams with a winning record (the Bills and the Buccaneers), winning both. Furthermore, of their six remaining matchups, only one (against the Bills in Week 15) is against a team currently above .500.
While the Patriots don’t choose their opponents and have successfully dispatched the “easier” competition (and it’s often said there are no truly easy wins in the NFL), they are undeniably capitalizing on an unprecedentedly favorable slate. They will end up playing the seven worst-record teams this season. Still, they are getting the job done, and given their remaining schedule, a 13-4 record and the AFC’s 1st seed-for the first time since 2017-is a highly probable outcome.
Remaining Schedule Analysis: A Clear Path to the Playoffs
The remainder of the Patriots’ schedule heavily favors their ascent. They travel next week to face the Cincinnati Bengals (3-6) and their poor defense, followed by a Monday Night Football home game against the New York Giants (2-8), who just fired their coach. It is reasonable to project the Patriots will be 11-2 heading into their bye week.
Following the bye, the most challenging stretch arrives. They host the Buffalo Bills (6-3), a game that could well decide the division title and potentially end Josh Allen’s five-year run of divisional championships. After that, they travel to Baltimore (4-5) to face the Ravens, who are experiencing a resurgence with three straight wins and will likely be fighting for a playoff spot after a poor start.
They close out the season against the divisional rivals, the Jets (2-8) and Dolphins (3-7). While divisional games are tough, both teams have been highly inconsistent this year. The Patriots possess advantages few teams have ever seen, and they are leveraging them effectively to arrive in January as the best team, not just in the AFC, but in the entire NFL. Time will tell if their record holds up when the pressure truly mounts.
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