Just when you thought it was safe to write them off, the New England Patriots are knocking on the door of the postseason. That’s right, the same team that scraped together a measly four wins last season is now sitting pretty at 11-2, a turnaround story that has even the most seasoned pundits scratching their heads. First-year Head Coach Mike Vrabel, a disciple of the Belichick gospel, has somehow managed to steer this ship from the league’s basement right into the thick of the AFC title hunt.
Remember those “shirt and hat games” Bill Belichick used to talk about? Well, Vrabel is channeling his inner mentor, downplaying the hype and keeping his squad laser-focused. “We’re just trying to play for the championship that we have available this week,” he said. After five long years of watching the Buffalo Bills dominate the AFC East, the Patriots are finally in the driver’s seat.
