It’s no secret that the Patriots defense stepped up in this first play-off game win, but is this just some defense déjà vu?
Huge kudos to Zak Kuhr. This guy was rolling into the 2025 season as the inside linebackers coach, when Defensive Co-ordinator Terrell Williams was struck with ill health and a cancer diagnosis, and Zak was asked to step in and take on the responsibilities.
And step up he did.
Some may argue that the defense has had some bad times, and they would be correct. It hasn’t balled out for the whole 2025 regular season. However, it has also been struck with injury, particularly to those significant free agency additions that were set to make a big difference (and have!).
Well, when it counted in a play off game, against a top team said to have one of the best QBs in the NFL currently… the defense dominated.
Justin Herbert was limited to less than 160 yards passing, the defense holding the Chargers to just 3 points whilst registering 6 sacks and 16 QB pressures, with 11 QB hits and 2 forced fumbles.
Now it’s swings and roundabouts, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. It was a tough game against the Chargers that had the offensive line looking weaker than we have seen for a while. But with this defense, this mountain of a man of a Head Coach, metaphorically and physically, and the offense of the magnificent Drake Maye playing to it’s full potential… holy heck Batman, the Pats might be gosh darn good again!
So whilst we roll into this victory Tuesday having established that the Patriots will in fact face those pesky 12 – 5 Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium, Sunday 18th January 3pm ET/8pm UK time, we are probably both elated and concerned.
This may not be the road well travelled, as such. Drake Maye’s first true winning season, particularly the first with Head Coach Mike Vrabel and OC Josh McDaniels, and have we forgotten that? Mike Vrabel is in his first year as Head Coach in New England. The Patriots went from 4-13 last season to 14-3 this. And just to add a little more fuel to the fire of Pats fans history misery:
- 2023: 4-13 (Missed Playoffs)
- 2022: 8-9 (Missed Playoffs)
- 2021: 10-7 (Lost in Wild Card Round)
- 2020: 7-9 (Missed Playoffs)
- 2019: 12-4 (Lost in Wild Card Round)
We all we got, we all we need may be a mantra that is catchy, helps build the team mentality, but it’s also exactly how that Chargers game panned out. Let’s hope that it rolls on through this post season too! Go Pats!
Don’t forget to check out the latest masterpiece by Mike Dussault of Patriots(.com) 1985: A Patriots Super Bowl Sound Odyssey. The fourth in the Patriots Super Bowl Sound Odyssey series, this edition is a 10 episode podcast chronicling the New England Patriots 1985 season
And make sure you never miss an episode of the Pats Propaganda Youtube show with Clare and Chudders by subscribing to the YouTube channel. Episode 85 is out now!
