A football game represents an extreme test of focus, so much so that New England Patriots’ QB Drake Maye couldn’t register all the MVP chants that rained down on Sunday’s 32-13 victory over the Cleveland Browns. Be as it may, the noise is getting harder to ignore. And NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah is the latest to join the chorus.

“I believed in [Maye’s] talent and what they were building there,” he said on The Rich Eisen Show. “They hired the right coach. They had a great draft.

“They were targeted in what they did in free agency. This was going to be a team that was ascending. That being said, I did not think they would be where they are, including a road win over Buffalo and a quarterback who’s not fringe, but one of the favorites in the MVP discussion. So, they’re way ahead of schedule.”

Here’s the thing: Jeremiah never had doubts about Maye’s talent. He just didn’t expect the team to be able to support the QB enough. That skepticism wasn’t without a reason, though. The team failed in supporting their rookie signal-caller last year. 

New HC Mike Vrabel knew that not adding left tackles had cost the team their 2024 season. No wonder they went into the 2025 NFL Draft with a clear thought process: to improve their offensive left tackle position and fill in other holes on the offensive line. That explains the Patriots’ drafting of OTs Will Campbell and Marcus Bryant. 

For Campbell, Week 8 against the Cleveland Browns was his toughest test. The rookie left tackle had to keep All-Pro pass rusher Myles Garrett away from Maye. And though it didn’t go particularly well every time, he showed promise.

Further, Jeremiah couldn’t help but appreciate OC Josh McDaniels’ efforts with the offensive line and the fact that he brought the best out of Maye. But all that will only matter if the team stays consistent moving ahead. 

The Patriots hope to continue their run against the Falcons

The team that went 4-13 last season is currently 6-2 and sitting atop the AFC East. The fact that they have improved under Vrabel’s leadership is clear. In fact, many believe they can make it to the playoffs—the first time since 2021. That remains to be seen.

At this moment, they are focused on Week 9 against the Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta is 3-4 so far, and so, the Patriots might be able to snag yet another win. At least, that’s what Vrabel believes. His confidence in his QB has been increasing because Maye keeps his cool under pressure.

Plus, the Pats have won their past seven meetings. Things look good on paper. 

All that said, they need to maintain their consistency in winning games. As much as they would like to challenge Atlanta through the air (after all, the Patriots sit 8th in scoring at 26.6 PPG, driven heavily by Maye’s efficiency and the passing game), they ought to be aware that the matchup could easily turn into who wins on the ground.

The game takes place on November 2 at Gillette Stadium. Will the Patriots win this one?