#new-england-patriots

#new-england-patriots

Quarterback Drake Maye was efficient and didn't turn the ball over, throwing for 231 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 31 yards and a score. New England's defense got crucial stops in the fourth quarter, including Marte Mapu's interception. Defensive tackle Milton Williams proved worthy of his hefty free-agent contract with the game-clinching sack. And how about Antonio Gibson's clutch kickoff return for a touchdown?

As a group, the running backs had 13 carries for 45 yards. The lead back, Rhamondre Stevenson, was abysmal, recording just 15 yards from seven carries for an average of 2.1 a pop. TreVeyon Henderson's totals were better: five carries notched him 27 yards, but when omitting his 14-yard carry, he sits at just 3.3 yards per run. He showed a burst, yes, but consistently not all that effective.

Much was expected from the new Patriots right away. The awful 2024 team, which won a measly four games, only lost six by one score. That gave great hopes for a Renaissance under Mike Vrabel as both coach and team builder in 2025. In the first game, it didn't happen. The 2025 Patriots smacked of the 2024 version against the Raiders, and that's not a compliment. A couple of things did go right, however, though the team is now 0-1.

A national championship, a meteoric rise in fantasy rankings, and now, a proposal. Patriots dynamic rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson announced on Instagram Tuesday that he had gotten engaged, posting a photo with his brand new fiancée, complete with an apparent "Marry Me" sign and rose petals. "'Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.' ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭31‬:‭30," he captioned the pic.

With the Dolphins in need of reinforcements on the offensive line, Miami is signing former Patriots offensive lineman Cole Strange off the Cleveland Browns' practice squad, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

At first, it looked like they were evenly matched, but that quickly fell apart the longer the game went on. Despite seeming to get into the groove after a rough start, the Patriots' downfall after halftime was noticeable and frustrating. Nothing was working in any phase of the game, which made it easy for the Raiders to do whatever they pleased to steal a win in Foxboro.

Game-changing wide receivers have evaded being signed by the Patriots for as long as most can remember, and it was clear that pattern needed to end going into the 2025 season. Mike Vrabel was very aware of that, and that explains why they chose to sign Stefon Diggs in free agency. His addition to the offensive roster had many fans excited, as Drake Maye would finally have the caliber of weapon that could immediately elevate their performance on day one.

Fortunately, they had some competition in the joint practices with the Commanders and the Vikings before their exhibition games. First-round pick Will Campbell has started at left tackle from the beginning. His pass-blocking, the subject of all kinds of questions, was decent, but he allowed a fourth-quarter strip-sack. His run blocking, predicted to be terrific, wasn't. He also had two procedure penalties.

He had been vocal throughout last season about the lack of proper coaching from Jerod Mayo's inexperienced staff, which might have led to his underwhelming year and firmly put him in the hot seat this offseason. However, he wasn't able to impress Vrabel and Co. in the weeks leading to the season opener on Sunday and was quickly moved down the depth chart because of it.