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The Eye on Foxborough Newsletter

September 12, 2025

Drake Maye (AP Photo)

Kicking off

The Week 1 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders was disappointing on so many levels.

From quarterback Drake Maye looking tentative and unsure of what he was doing, to the defense surrendering nine plays of 20 yards or more, to the nine penalties committed, it wasn't what was expected from a Mike Vrabel- coached team.

The Patriots were supposed to take advantage of bad football, not the other way around.

The good news?

It's only one game.  No one said Vrabel would be able to turn it around overnight with a new coaching staff, a new offense, and a new defense.

But, the Patriots do need to show progress and get in the win column, starting with the Dolphins in Miami on Sunday.

While it's true Hard Rock Stadium has been a house of horrors for the Patriots, who haven't won a game there since 2019, it's time to change the narrative. It's time to finally beat Tua Tagovailoa (7-0).

The Dolphins are having their own issues. They might have a more talented roster, but they're a dumpster fire. Daniel Jones and the Indianapolis Colts blew them out in Miami last week.

Fans are calling for coach Mike McDaniel to be fired. There have been players-only meetings. So all's not well on South Beach. 

The Patriots have their own issues, which include an anemic offense and a quarterback who is still adjusting to a new, complex offense. But they need to get Drake Maye right, head into the sweltering heat and earn their first win of the Vrabel era.

Starting 0-2 really isn't an option, especially given all of the hype and expectations surrounding Vrabel and the team. 

"Every week is different. Every week is a huge challenge. I feel the opportunity to go on the road and win a division game. That's what I feel and that's where our thought process is, is that we want to try to get off to a good start, and if we don't, we can't worry about it," Vrabel said Wednesday. "These are all things that we have to be able to overcome, whether you get off to a good start, you're still going to have to finish strong, and if you don't get off to a great start, you've got to go on to the next play ... that's how this game goes, and we have to be able to work past it." 

Here are some links from the week …  

Josh McDaniels digs his heels in when it comes to Drake Maye’s welfare | Karen Guregian

Already, it’s evaluation time for Drake Maye | Karen Guregian

Josh McDaniels has emphatic response to notion Drake Maye has too much on his plate

Josh McDaniels defends Patriots QB Drake Maye: “He’s the right guy”

Patriots fans should be patient with Drake Maye | Mark Daniels

Where Josh McDaniels believes he ‘can do a better job’ for Patriots after Week 1 loss

Stefon Diggs says Patriots offense can be fixed ‘pretty fast.’ Can it? | Karen Guregian

Patriots QB Drake Maye reflects on accuracy issues

Stefon Diggs on Drake Maye taking criticism: ‘He’s not a softie or nothing’

Who will replace Terrell Williams as Patriots defensive coordinator?

Patriots defensive coordinator will be away from team for ‘unforeseen’ reasons

Patriots’ $104 million man still motivated by doubters

Christian Gonzalez injury: Patriots top cornerback not ready to return

Young Patriots receiver reminds everyone he was once a projected first rounder

Diligent Patriots newcomer is already making coaches keep their phones on at night

Pro Bowl pass rusher makes immediate impact in Patriots debut

Test your football knowledge against MassLive’s football experts by making picks each week in the Pro Football U Pick 'Em Challenge sponsored by MGM Springfield.

The start of the Mike Vrabel era with the Patriots did not go to plan in a Week 1 loss to the Raiders. In fact, the team looked reminiscent of last year’s dysfunctional group for a lot of the 20-13 defeat.

The disappointing performance sets up a fascinating backdrop for a Week 2 matchup against the Miami Dolphins, a team that looked overmatched themselves in a 33-8 drubbing to the Colts in their road opener.

Every week, a MassLive sportswriter will pick the result of the upcoming Patriots game and Celtics beat reporter Brian Robb gets the honors for this intriguing Week 2 divisional battle.

Follow along with our picks for every pro football all season long in MassLive’s “Pro Football U Pick ‘Em Challenge” sponsored by MGM Springfield. You can test your football knowledge against our experts and win weekly and season-long prizes. You can still sign up and join the fun.

So here's Robb's take for Week 2: 

On paper, this is one of the more winnable road games of the year for New England. The Dolphins are already shorthanded with several key injuries in the backfield and offensive line. Throw in a struggling Tua Tagovailia, who led Miami to just 211 total yards on offense along with three turnovers and there’s reason to be optimistic about a bounce back for the Pats.

Still, it’s hard not to worry about the Patriots’ history in Miami for this matchup despite the offseason change in regime. New England has not won at Hard Rock Stadium since 2019 when some guy named Tom Brady was commanding the offense. They’ve also lost four straight to the Dolphins overall. All-time, the Patriots are 16-43 in Miami, including a 34-15 blowout loss last year.

Vrabel is well aware of that Miami history given his playing days in New England and knows clearly what’s at stake in this matchup. His sense of urgency was clear just minutes after the Week 1 loss.

“I just want to see now we’ll see where we’re at. We’ll see what kind of football team we have, what kind of leaders we have to be able to come back in here and get to work,” Vrabel said.

An 0-2 start for the Patriots against a soft schedule would be disastrous for Vrabel so calling out his team early is a savvy move. Look for it to produce a gritty win for New England in a usual house of horrors.

The Pick: Patriots 20, Dolphins 17.

Here is this week's highlighted question:

Are you confident Drake Maye will be able to turn it around? - Adrian S.

Guregian: Maye's performance against the Raiders was certainly eye-opening. He didn't seem like a very confident quarterback. The freedom and ease with which he played last season was missing. Instead, he was tentative. He didn't go through his progressions. It was first-read, and if that wasn't there, take off and run.

It's likely the product of being with a new coordinator, in an offense that demands more of him.

With all of that as a backdrop, I am fairly confident Maye will work out the kinks. I believe Josh McDaniels will eventually get the best out of him. I'd be surprised if Maye didn't have a much better game against the Dolphins.

NOTE: MassLive columnist Karen Guregian will answer reader questions in this space weekly. If you have questions on the Patriots, NFL, or anything else, email Karen at kguregian@masslive.com or tweet to @kguregian.

Bill Belichick (AP Photo)

Drake Maye shares thoughts on Bill Belichick banning Patriots scouts from UNC practices

Bill Belichick, Jordon Hudson have 4 trademark requests denied

New book reveals Bill Belichick’s feelings on Tom Brady’s departure from Patriots

Rob Gronkowski thinks Drake Maye looked ‘timid’ in Week 1, wants to see more

What Tom Brady told Geno Smith after QB’s performance vs. Patriots

Jabrill Peppers shares feelings on surprising Patriots release

Ex-Patriots QB in line to start Week 2 after Brock Purdy injury

NOTE: If you like what you see here, make sure to follow MassLive's Patriots reporters Chris Mason and Mark Daniels and columnists Karen Guregian, Matt Vautour and Sean McAdam and Nick O'Malley on Twitter. You should also bookmark MassLive's Patriots page and like our Patriots page on Facebook. 

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You're all caught up.

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