The New England Patriots are truly having a renaissance in 2025. It’s the first time in a half-decade they have looked remotely close to the Tom Brady juggernaut they were for the first 20 years of this century.
Drake Maye is doing things that haven’t been done since the GOAT was in Foxborough. The second-year man could very well win MVP, and his coach, Mike Vrabel, is the heavy favorite to win Coach of the Year as well. It would be the first time a Pats coach has won the award since Bill Belichick won his third and final trophy in 2010.
But it’s not just individual greatness New England is seeing for the first time in six years. As a team, they are also on the verge of ending a few dubious droughts that have stood since Brady took his talents to Clearwater Beach.
With only four games remaining, the 11-2 Patriots’ playoff scenarios are getting exceedingly simple. If they can beat the 9-4 Buffalo Bills at home in Week 15, New England will not only clinch a playoff berth for the first time in four years, but the Pats will also clinch the AFC East crown for the first time in six years.
And if that weren’t already enough, the Patriots can also end another curse that has been festering in this AFC East rivalry since Brady left half a dozen years ago. If they beat the Bills at home, they will have completed their first season sweep of Buffalo since the Brady era.
The past six seasons have included two Buffalo sweeps, most recently in 2022. The Patriots can return the favor here in 2025 by doing what Brady’s boys did 15 times from 2001-2019.
Although, one could argue that a sweep of these Josh Allen-led Bills would be much more impressive than any double Brady did on those Buffalo teams led by the likes of J.P. Losman and Trent Edwards.
If the Patriots are unable to beat the Bills, the division will be very much up for grabs. However, they could still clinch their spot in the postseason even with a loss on Sunday.
If both the 8-5 Houston Texans (at home against the 3-10 Arizona Cardinals) and the 8-5 Indianapolis Colts (away to the 10-3 Seattle Seahawks) lose in Week 15, the Patriots secure a spot in the playoffs no matter what.
Best not to leave such things in the hands of other teams, however. Mike Vrabel, Drake Maye, and company would surely agree.