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The New England Patriots are gaining widespread recognition as legitimate contenders in the NFL this season. Much of that belief stems from head coach Mike Vrabel’s strategic approach and quarterback Drake Maye’s accelerated development in his second year.
New England appears to be a complete team under Vrabel’s leadership, with an emphasis on situational football, clock management, and tactical execution that has yielded consistent results.
FS1 analyst Nick Wright recently shared his assessment of the AFC hierarchy during a segment of First Things First. He did not hesitate to place the Patriots directly behind the Kansas City Chiefs in his current rankings.
“(The Patriots) are going to be the one seed in the AFC. I believe, but that’s conjecture, obviously. What I know is, for me, I will pick them to win any AFC playoff game they play, except for, against the Chiefs. I think they are legitimately, right now, the second-best team in the AFC,” Wright said.
.@getnickwright thinks the Patriots are the 2nd-best team in the AFC 👀
“I will pick them to win any AFC playoff game they play, except for against the Chiefs.” pic.twitter.com/e3PDDkDOFX
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) November 14, 2025
New England has shown the ability to win games in multiple ways throughout the season. Maye has posted statistical performances that compare favorably to several elite quarterbacks, including Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Lamar Jackson.
Vrabel has established a culture built on daily accountability, disciplined preparation, and consistent execution across all three phases. Those standards reflect the organizational identity that defined New England’s previous era of success.
The Patriots became the first team to reach nine wins this season after defeating the New York Jets on Thursday night. That victory positioned them ahead of the idle Indianapolis Colts in the race for the AFC’s top seed.
New England has not won the division since 2019 and has not secured the conference’s No. 1 playoff position since 2017. Maintaining their current standing will also depend on results from other contenders over the coming weeks.
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