FOXBORO — The Patriots are in first place within the AFC East. They presently personal the tiebreaker over the Payments, and if the season ended right now, they’d be internet hosting a playoff sport.
That is not the way it works, although, and Mike Vrabel is aware of it.
Vrabel instructed reporters Wednesday he is not getting forward of himself about the place his workforce sits within the standings six weeks into his first season as Patriots head coach.
“They are not going to cancel the remainder of the season,” Vrabel mentioned. “That is not likely our focus proper now, however I’d say that we have put ourselves ready to play significant video games. They’re all significant. However we’re definitely centered on this one (in Tennessee), on the street, our final of three right here.”
The best way this season has performed out to this point for the Patriots has been, one would possibly say, unpredictable.
Whereas they seemed like an improved workforce this offseason, the Payments had been considered as a Tremendous Bowl favourite. But, with Drake Maye playing like one of the best quarterbacks in football, Buffalo is trying up at New England. And given what appears to be a historically soft schedule for the Patriots, there’s an opportunity the wins proceed to pile up.
Earlier than the season, the Patriots had been extensively considered as a company nonetheless within the midst of a rebuild. It is turning into one thing extra, significantly given a few of the accidents which have struck different playoff-contending groups within the AFC by way of mid-October.
Lamar Jackson has missed time and Baltimore has only one win. The Bengals are again close to the underside of the league after dropping Joe Burrow. The Chargers have a successful file however have misplaced each of their beginning tackles.
There may be parity. Which implies for a workforce just like the Patriots, there is opportunity.
An addition or two earlier than the league’s Nov. 4 NFL commerce deadline might theoretically propel the Patriots towards a end that nobody noticed coming. They may use a operating again after Antonio Gibson’s season-ending injury. Possibly a pass-rusher or a security would buttress what they presently have on the roster. And if there is a top-flight receiver accessible for some cause, they might stand to profit from including to that room as properly.
However Vrabel indicated that the standings, and his workforce’s efficiency of late, will not essentially make his entrance workplace extra aggressive to swing a deal.
“I don’t know if that has a bearing on it,” Vrabel mentioned. “We’ll simply proceed to attempt to strengthen the roster each day. Typically these are small strikes, perhaps larger ones. However I don’t assume that proper now these conversations are centered round what our file is presently.
“I do not assume that is one thing that actually bears into it. We need to construct one thing. If any of these issues may help us construct and strengthen us and permits for long-term constant success, then I feel that’s what we must always attempt to do.”
If the hunt to strengthen the roster by no means ceases, as Vrabel defined, there do seem like some governors on that pursuit. A pricey one-year rental, given Vrabel’s, “We need to construct one thing” reply, would appear unlikely.
However a participant in his prime who has years left on his contract and will assist towards the aim of long-term constant success? That could possibly be a unique story.
We touched on a few names the Patriots could pursue in this week’s mailbag, which included Jets operating again Breece Corridor, Dolphins operating again Jaylen Wright and Bengals pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson.
The Patriots have rather less than three weeks to strike, enhance their roster, and capitalize on the chance that faces them in a wide-open AFC.
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