The New England Patriots are absolutely shocking the AFC right now, pulling themselves out of a total mess with a three-game win streak. Seriously, nobody saw this coming. What makes it even wilder? Their offensive line looks like a disaster zone, and they’re still rolling. Experts who once wrote them off are scrambling, trying to figure out if this run is for real, even as key guys are dropping like flies.
Maye Shakes Off Slump, Patriots Ride a Rushing Tidal Wave
This turnaround isn’t just luck, folks. Drake Maye tossed three touchdown passes in their 26-19 victory over the Jets, locking in their third straight win. That Buffalo upset and the Raiders blowout? Yeah, those don’t look like isolated good Sundays anymore, do they? This team is putting together a genuine run. A huge part of their offensive success, and something that doesn’t get nearly enough credit, is their commitment to the ground game. They’ve ramped up their rushing total to a massive 784 yards across six games, averaging 131 rushing yards per game. That’s up from 129 yards per game last year, and it’s clearly helped Maye shake off his slump. Vinnie Iyer from Sporting News and Ian Glenn from Full Press Coverage are both bumping the Patriots up to fifth in their power rankings, rightfully calling them one of the AFC’s most credible threats. You love to see a team just *grind* it out.
The O-Line Nightmare and a Huge Test in Chicago
Here’s the rub, though, and it’s a big one: offensive line health is the Patriots’ biggest issue. It’s a full-blown crisis. Three starters, right tackle Morgan Moses (ankle), left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker (hamstring), and right guard Ben Brown (knee), all got knocked out of last Sunday’s game. And get this: Brown was only in the lineup because opening-day starter Mike Onwenu (ankle) and his replacement Greg Van Roten (hip) were already on IR earlier in the season. They’ve had three different offensive line combinations in just six games! This absolute mess has some “experts”, like Nate Davis from USA Today, knocking them down two spots in his rankings *just because* they *might* lose their upcoming Thursday night game in Chicago. Seriously? Rankings based on games that haven’t been played yet? That’s some wild pessimism, especially when the Patriots are facing a legit 4-2 Bears team that boasts a good quarterback and a solid defense. Chicago is favored by 3.5 points, and they certainly aren’t going to make Jets-like mistakes. This is a massive test for their patched-up line.
AFC Shake-Up and a Big One for Our Hawks
Looking at the AFC East, the Bills are leading at 5-1 (on a bye this week), followed by our suddenly relevant Patriots at 4-2. The Jets are struggling at 2-4, and the Dolphins are way down at 0-5. The AFC is getting spicy, and the Patriots are right in the thick of it. And speaking of spicy AFC matchups, don’t forget about our Seattle Seahawks. They’re sitting at 3-3 and are about to face the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs (5-0) in what’s going to be an absolutely massive showdown. Talk about high stakes!
Can the Patriots keep this miracle run going against a tough Bears squad with an offensive line held together by duct tape and prayers? That Chicago game is going to tell us a lot about what this team is truly made of. You gotta tune in, buddy. And don’t forget to catch our Hawks against the Chiefs too, that’s gonna be a HUGE one!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pats Pulpit.
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