Following a pair of home games, the 7-2 New England Patriots are heading south for a showdown with the 6-2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While the Bucs find themselves down several starters despite coming off
a bye, the matchup will remain a strong test for the Patriots, who are also down a pair of offensive starters, to keep their six game winning streak alive.
Here on Pats Pulpit, our focus this week both wrapped up the win over the Falcons and prep for the Buccaneers. For anything else not covered previously, let’s clean out the notebook. Welcome to this week’s edition of our Sunday Patriots Notes.
New England support
Athletes in New England know things are different here than most other sports cities. A city rich in sports history that has featured dozens of championships and some of the greatest athletes to ever play their respective games. It brings a pressure, and almost an expectation, to win.
That pressure is not for everyone. But those who find success are treated like royalty. And nobody is finding that out more than Patriots quarterback Drake Maye.
Through the first nine games of his sophomore season, Maye has led the Patriots to a 7-2 record as he has catapulted into the MVP discussion. As Maye has elevated his game to new heights, the fan support has elevated as well.
This past week, the quarterback attended the Boston Celtics game on Monday with his wife, Ann Michael, and teammate Will Campbell. After getting mobbed by young fans before the game, Maye and Campbell were shown on the Jumbotron to a loud applause. The cameras then cut to a young fan in the crowd wearing a shirt that said, “I love Drake Maye.”
The next day, Maye made his way down to Smithfield, RI. where he served as the Fall Speaker at Bryant University. When he was introduced, he received a loud ovation and students in attendance quickly began chants of “MVP!” At the start of the panel, Maye could barely begin a sentence before another round of applause would begin.
“I didn’t expect this tonight,” he told the crowd. “It’s pretty sick.”
While Maye is not usually one to soak in the praise, he has appreciated the support for the fans early in his career.
“I think they’re excited about what we’re doing. We’re trying to give them something to cheer for, and we got to bring it every week, but it’s pretty cool,” Maye said Wednesday. “Pretty cool to see some of the reactions you get, and it’s a reminder of the platform that I’m given and what you can do with it – spread love and spread messages. It’s really cool, and I appreciate the way this city has embraced me. We’ve got to keep going.”
Godwin-Diggs comparison
With the Patriots traveling down to Tampa Bay this week, it serves as a timely reminder to revisit one of the defining moments from the past offseason.
Back in March as NFL Free Agency began, the Patriots targeted wide receiver Chris Godwin with a hefty financial offer. Godwin, however, turned down “generational money,” according to his agent to return to the team that drafted him.
Fast forward to now and Godwin, who has been ruled out for Sunday, has played just two games for the Buccaneers this season as he worked back from a season-ending left ankle fracture-dislocation to only suffer a fibula injury in Week 6. Meanwhile, the Patriots eventually went on to sign wide receiver Stefon Diggs who now leads the team in receptions (45) and receiving yards (508) while being a key locker room figure.
Mental health
As Patriots special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer took the podium on Thursday, he opened by sharing his condolences to the Dallas Cowboys organization after the sudden passing of Marshawn Kneeland. Kneeland, 24, was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Ahead of My Cause My Cleats, Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez continues to support The KyleCares Foundation, who helps high school and colleges in New England support student mental health
“Kyle Cares is all about mental health,” Gonzalez said. “I was able to go to an event at a local high school, and just learning about this foundation, learning about Kyle Cares and what they stand for, I felt like it was a no-brainer for me to pick this to partner with and honor my friend Keith [Miller].”
The Patriots have made sure to keep similar resources available to their players.
“That’s something that I think we have always been intentional with, is trying to find and put as many points of contact around our players, our coaches and our employees that we possibly can, that they feel comfortable sharing things and communicating,” Mike Vrabel said. “Just continue to touch on it and bring it to everybody’s mind as we go through and we do this thing with life and football.”
Back to the Bay
Sunday’s game in Tampa Bay will mark Carlton Davis’ first game back since the Buccaneers traded him in March of 2024. Davis, who spent the first six year of his career and won Super Bowl LV with the Bucs, shared this week he was salty and in disbelief following the trade.
“I didn’t see it coming. My agent didn’t see it coming. It was definitely a surprise for me,” Davis said. “It’s just an example of how this game can go, and how cutthroat it can be, sometimes.”
Davis still resides in Tampa during the offseason and has a lot of love for the city and organization, but has been grateful for the journey of being traded to Detroit and now playing in New England.
Speed debates
No offensive lineman wants to record a tackle, as the opportunity to do so means something went poorly offensively. Last Sunday, opportunity was there for Will Campbell after Drake Maye lost a fumble on a strip sack. Campbell went on to chase down Falcons pass rusher James Pearce to save a touchdown in a play Mike Vrabel praised after the game.
The play also earned respect from Campbell’s teammates while also sparking a debate in the offensive line room.
“[Bradbury] and Will were laughing the other day — ‘who’s faster?’” Drake Maye shared. “But then Will chased down a defensive end.”
Back at the NFL Combine, Campbell ran a 4.98-second 40-yard dash while Bradbury clocked a 4.92 40-yard dash back in 2019. Fellow rookie Jared Wilson also made sure to throw his name into the ring after running a 4.84-second 40 in March.
Edge depth
Ahead of the NFL trade deadline, many though the Patriots could look to add pass rush depth along the edge. With no moves made, New England will continue with the group led by Harold Landry and K’Lavon Chaisson, with Anfernee Jennings, Elijah Ponder, and Caleb Murphy serving as depth option.
“I like it. We’ve got a mix of young guys and older guys,” outside linebackers coach Mike Smith said. “I think Harold and KC are playing well. I think there are things we can get better on. I like where Ponder is, and I like the things that Ant can bring in as well. Ant’s got a specific skill based with his power and setting things off with his power. I love the way he sets the edge with the run. It’s just a good mixture of guys. They’ve been here with me since we got here.”
If New England needs more juice along the edge, the thought of elevating fifth-round pick Bradyn Swinson, who recorded 8.5 sacks his final season at LSU, off the practice squad could become a reality down the line. Swinson was recently named show team player of the week for his work simulating Jalon Walker ahead of the Falcons game.
“It creates a lot of opportunities with Keion leaving. I wish him nothing but the best,” Smith said. “Anytime somebody’s leaving, it opens the door for Ponder and Ant, and all those guys, Swinson. But it’s big. It’s more reps and more opportunities.”
Road warriors
The Patriots join the Seattle Seahawks as the only teams with undefeated road records in 2025, each being 4-0. A win this week at Tampa Bay would give the Patriots a 5-0 road record for the seventh time in franchise history and the first since 2021.
Week ahead
A short week is on deck for the Patriots as they’ll prepare for a Thursday night matchup with the New York Jets. Ahead of a matchup against another member of the 2024 QB class in Michael Penix, New England will likely maintain their typical in-season schedule in Week 9:
- Monday, Nov. 10: Mike Vrabel media availability, player media availability
- Tuesday, Nov. 11: Practice, Mike Vrabel media availability, player media availability, injury report
- Wednesday, Nov. 12: TBD
- Thursday, Nov. 13: Game day vs. New York Jets at Gillette Stadium (8:15 p.m. ET)
- Friday, Nov. 14: No media availability
- Saturday, Nov. 15: No media availability
- Sunday, Nov. 16: No media availability
