Welcome back to another edition of 5 Questions, a weekly collaboration with other SB Nation sites to preview the Ravens’ upcoming matchups. This week, the Ravens are playing the New England Patriots, so
Tayor Kyles of Pats Pulpit is on hand to answer Baltimore Beatdown’s questions about Week 16.
And, check out Baltimore Beatdown’s responses to Pat Pulpit’s questions about the Ravens!
1. Mike Vrabel has undoubtedly brought his brand of football to New England. How does the team differ from last year under Jerod Mayo and are there similarities to Bill Belichick’s regime?
Jerod Mayo brought a more empathetic approach to coaching than his predecessor, but was ultimately unprepared for the role. Mike Vrabel has taken a similar approach when it comes to building relationships, but he’s also brought vision, experience, and a hands-on approach, all of which were lacking late season. As a result, the team is more resilient and well-coordinated, and they’re closer on and off the field than I’ve seen during my three years on the beat.
Vrabel is much more personable than Bill Belichick, but he has a similarly impressive acumen for the game and can coach any position. The toughness, versatility, and awareness Vrabel showed as a player have carried over to his coaching, and it’s evident in how his team operates.
2. In that same vein, how has Eli Wolf’s roster-building strategy different from past Patriots teams, and how has that shown up on the field this season?
Eliot Wolf’s 2025 draft has been night and day different from his 2024 class. Outside of Drake Maye, last season’s group lacked maturity and NFL-caliber play-making ability. As a result, most players from before Vrabel’s time are no longer with the team.
This season, the Patriots have gotten over half a dozen starters and multiple key contributors from their draft class. Belichick failed to sufficiently address offensive tackle or wide receiver toward the end of his tenure, and eye for kickers seemed to fade. That wasn’t the case this offseason, as New England reshaped the entire left side of its offensive line with rookies Will Campbell and Jared Wilson, added a speedster at receiver in Kyle Williams, and selected an impressively consistent kicker in Andy Borregales. TreVeyon Henderson’s home run ability also breaks the mold of traditional Belichick running backs, and the former Buckeye has been a game-changer since Week 10.
Overall, this year’s emphasis on explosiveness, character, and mental toughness have been key to the team’s quick turnaround.
3. Drake Maye has emerged as an MVP candidate and TreyVeon Henderson is the odds-on favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year. Do you think they can take home the hardware?
I think Drake Maye’s inconsistency over the past month of the season could contribute to him falling short. His accuracy has been erratic at times, and he’s coming off his worst game as a pro. All that said, Maye’s done an incredible job nipping bad habits in the bud, and he’s still good for 3-5 wow plays a game. There’s a chance he surges ahead of Matthew Stafford if he greatly outperforms the veteran down the stretch, but my money’s on Stafford.
Henderson is a different story. He’s been white hot since November and produced like one of the league’s best backs, ranking third in yards per rush, yards before contact per rush, and rushing touchdowns among qualified backs. Tetairoa McMillan is also deserving and could make some noise if Carolina makes the playoffs, but Henderson might run away with the award (pun intended) if he maintains his current pace.
4. Maye has been virtually unstoppable through the air this season. How can the Ravens defense slow him down, and what can they expect from his running ability?
Man coverage has been the most consistent strategy for defending Maye. It forces him to be accurate and on the same page as his receivers, which hasn’t always been the case of late. The Patriots also haven’t proven they can consistently beat Cover 0, which forces quick throws away from the short middle.
Maye’s scrambling ability is dangerous, particularly when he can escape through the middle of the pocket, but sound gap discipline should help with that. Josh McDaniels also likes to incorporate read option concepts in scoring territory.
5. The matchup between the Ravens’ rushing attack and the Patriots’ run defense is a classic matchup of two elite units. Can the Ravens break through, and to what extent will they need to lean on the pass on Sunday?
The Patriots’ run defense has actually been one of the worst in the league since around Week 9. Losing Milton Williams has hurt their ability to be disruptive, and leading Robert Spillane is set to miss his second straight game due to injury. Still, the inability to build a wall or set firm edges consistently began creeping up before either player went down. Josh Allen, Spencer Rattler, and Justin Fields have also had success on scrambles and quarterback runs. and DT Christian Barmore is also questionable entering Sunday’s game.
Based on recent history, including a huge game from James Woolf last week, I’d be surprised if New England contains another explosive backfield like the Ravens’.
