The New England Patriots struggled to capitalize on red zone opportunities in 2025.
Surprisingly, the No. 2 scoring offense by points per game in the NFL last season (28.8) left touchdowns on the table when snapping the ball inside opponents’ 20-yard lines.
While an overall stagnant offense led to New England’s lackluster Super Bowl performance in February, red zone efficiency was arguably the team’s biggest weakness last season. The Patriots ranked below league average at 17th in that category, finding
the end zone just 57% of the time after crossing the 20.
For that reason, they’ve invested resources to address that issue and placed heavy emphasis on it in practices this offseason.
Extensive offseason work
In 2025, a road trip to Tampa Bay during Week 10 displayed the Patriots’ shortcomings on more than one occasion.
Leading 21-16 with just over six minutes remaining in the contest, New England possessed the ball at the Buccaneers’ 3-yard line with a new set of downs and a chance to extend its lead to double digits.
However, the Patriots only managed to gain one yard on the first two snaps from a D’Ernest Johnson rush that was quickly denied by the Tampa Bay defense. Then, following an incompletion on second down, Drake Maye scrambled to his right after the snap and forced an interception directly to defensive back Tykee Smith in the end zone, attempting to hit a smothered Mack Hollins in the back corner.
Two weeks later, in Cincinnati, the offense, with a new set of downs at the Bengals’ 1-yard line, failed to convert following a seven-play sequence.
A Cincinnati penalty extended the goal-line push, but after a Hollins pass interference call and Maye’s attempt to Hunter Henry fell short, back-to-back run stuffs resulting in no gain led to a turnover on downs.
While New England won both of those games, they struggled to find red zone success, which allowed teams to hang around and potentially take control of the game.
Throughout the offseason, many of the team’s practices included red zone periods, with some days consisting only of red zone work.
Ahead of Sunday’s walkthrough, the media spoke with some of the offensive coaches.
When asked about the size of his wide receivers, coordinator Josh McDaniels said those physical traits are a benefit “because there’s no greater part of the field for [the team] to focus on and try to improve than the red zone.”
New England also seemingly diagnosed that weakness shortly after the season ended in San Francisco. Their offensive free-agent additions in March indicate what their point of focus was.
The addition of Romeo Doubs
Doubs, one of the franchise’s new additions, stands at 6 foot 2 and 210 pounds — a great fit for the size McDaniels mentioned.
He had a slow start to training camp, but after a strong week of practices, the 26-year-old receiver delivered a three-touchdown performance last Saturday, Aug. 15. On all three receptions, Doubs leapt over his defender, high-pointing the ball in the end zone.
That usage then continued into the joint practices with the Eagles on Wednesday and Thursday, as the Nevada product caught several passes in team periods across both sessions.
When asked what makes Doubs an effective red zone target, wide receivers coach Todd Downing referenced his size.
“I think his ability to play above the rim,” Downing said on Sunday. “He’s a very strong player. He’s not going to get bumped off of his route very easily. And he [has] good football IQ, so he understands where he’s supposed to fit in a concept.
“Sometimes, you may not be first in the read or first in the progression, but it’s just as important that you get to your landmark with the proper timing and spacing. So, he’s been doing a really nice job with that and has obviously had some red zone success in his career.”
As Maye began connecting with Doubs more often in practice, his role in the offense noticeably shifted to running more routes along the sideline. And he’s seemingly grown comfortable doing so, especially when there’s a 50/50 ball in the air.
Mike Vrabel, when speaking with the media before last Saturday’s practice and after Doubs’ role adjustment, spoke about “figuring out the player” when asked about Doubs’ aforementioned string of productive efforts.
“I think [wide receivers coach Todd Downing] found where Romeo can really help us — be big, fast and aggressive, and I think that showed up in some practices that you saw,” Vrabel said. “It’s just figuring out what they do best, seeing what you can realistically improve, and then putting them in those spots to help build their own confidence, and then also a place where they can help the football team.”
In his second season with Green Bay in 2022, Doubs caught seven red zone touchdowns, good for the fourth-most in the NFL. Then, last season, he posted a 58.82% contested catch rate and a 30% target share in the red zone, while Packers quarterback Jordan Love recorded a 137.9 passer rating when targeting the Los Angeles native.
Improved and cohesive run-blocking
The offensive trenches were also upgraded in free agency after the Patriots finished below average in rush EPA, ranking 17th, with -0.03 yards under expected in 2025.
Revisiting the Tampa Bay matchup, New England ran the ball three times from the Buccaneers’ one-yard line to no avail nearing halftime. Nevertheless, with zeros on the clock, Maye found a toe-tapping Diggs inside the end zone on 4th-and-one.
But still, with three chances to punch the ball in from the goal line, a fourth-down gamble shouldn’t be expected.
New left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker and fullback Reggie Gilliam are among the elite run blockers at their respective positions.
Last season, Gilliam, Pro Football Focus’ No. 1-rated run-blocking fullback, helped the Buffalo Bills produce the league’s most productive rushing attack and James Cook lead the NFL in rushing. The Bills also converted 66% of their red zone trips, which was the third-best total.
Vera-Tucker, even at 6-foot-4, 308 pounds, is an athletic lineman who pairs his quick lateral movement with strong hands at the point of attack. The former New York Jet has a career PFF run-blocking grade of 80.2 and tested above the 90th percentile in Relative Athletic Score as a draft prospect in 2021.
Both additions can provide more movement at the point of attack on the line of scrimmage, creating wider running lanes that could benefit the Patriots in the red zone and on the goal line.
