The impressive season that the New England Patriots have had to this point has a lot to do with their franchise quarterback, Drake Maye. As New England sits at a staggering 11-2 entering their bye week in week 14—the latest that any NFL team can have a bye week—the Patriots young signal-caller has been played like a clear MVP candidate for the balance of the season.

In 13 games, Maye has thrown 23 touchdown passes, just 6 interceptions, and leads the league with 3,412 passing yards (pro-football-reference.com). It hasn’t just been the way that Maye has played all season that’s galvanized Patriots fans—it’s been his ability to go into tough environments, perform at a high level with poise under pressure, and win. The two likely signature wins of the season to this point include defeating the division rival Buffalo Bills and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road, both of which Maye was an integral part of in deciding the game.

Maye’s second-year leap has also been credited to offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who New England brought in for a third stint. McDaniels’ creative ways of simplifying and adjusting the offense on the fly for Maye have been vital.

Reliable veteran targets for Maye

Receiver Stefon Diggs has been everything the Patriots asked for—and then some—after signing a three-year, $69 million contract in March. There were obvious questions within both the fan base as well as the national and local media about just how much Diggs would be able to contribute to an unproven offense after coming off an ACL tear. However, Diggs has been a go-to for Maye, catching 64 passes for 705 yards and 3 touchdowns in 13 games (pro-football-reference.com).

To go along with his play, Diggs has been massive in the locker room and has been a trustworthy voice for young receivers Kayshon Boutte and DeMario Douglas, along with rookie passcatcher Kyle Williams. Diggs is one of the obvious catalysts for helping the Patriots get to where they are this season.

Hunter Henry has also been an excellent security blanket for the second-year quarterback. Henry is seemingly always available on third down, and his rare drops have made him an easy player for Patriots fans to root for since he was signed as a free agent before the 2021 season.

A formidable offensive line

The offensive line for New England was one of the big question marks entering the season. How would rookies Will Campbell and Jared Wilson perform? Would Garrett Bradbury be a swing and a miss at center? Would Morgan Moses and Mike Onwenu be able to stay healthy for a full season?

It’s been a pleasant surprise to see the entire offensive line play like a cohesive, above-average unit. With both rookies in Campbell and Wilson going down a few weeks back with injuries, though, it will be important to see whether New England gets them back healthy for the playoffs. Even a competent offensive line is a breath of fresh air for Patriots fans who have witnessed absolute messes of such units in years past.

The true difference that great coaching can make

Maybe the most important decision that Owner Robert Kraft had to make in the off-season was bringing in a head coach who could bring the franchise back to its winning ways. When Mike Vrabel became available after being a consultant in the Cleveland Browns organization last season, fans were clamouring for New England to be a top destination. After ownership decided to bring him in, fans began to get that feeling of optimism back again.

Vrabel has brought in a culture, a mindset, and an approach that has been a chain reaction throughout the entire organization. Specifically, broadcasters and studio analysts have praised the way in which Vrabel remains at the entrance of the Patriots locker room right after each game and greets his players—essentially acknowledging each individual player and congratulating them for their efforts.

Vrabel has also had a profound impact on key defensive playmakers. Christian Gonzalez, Marcus Jones, Christian Barmore, Milton Williams, and K’Lavon Chaisson are just a few of the names that Vrabel’s coaching has rubbed off on. With defense being Vrabel’s specialty, both as a player and previously as Head Coach of the Tennessee Titans, it comes as no shock that a Mike Vrabel-coached defense has been as consistent a group as it has.

What’s ahead?

To wrap up the regular season after their bye week, New England begins their last 4 games by facing the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium for a chance to clinch the AFC East division title for the first time since 2019. New England then goes on the road against the Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets, before the season finale at home against the Miami Dolphins.

In an ideal scenario, before week 18, New England would be locked into a position of the number one seed in the AFC with a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. This would then enable the team to rest most of its starters in the last game of the regular season. Until then, there’s a lot of football still to be played, and it remains to be seen how the landscape of the conference shapes out.