Flavin Media

This has honestly been just about the most treacherous stretch any Patriots fan has endured since the Tom Brady/Bill Belichick era. We’re all wondering how we can return to Patriot dominance—and how quickly it can happen. Realistically, we’re looking at three stepping stones to consistent success:

• A new and fully assembled offensive line
• A system focused around the QB
• An improved defensive line

This obviously won’t happen over the course of this season and will probably take another 1–2 years. There are a lot of investments GM Eliot Wolf will have to make, along with a semi-culture shift from those in charge overall.

The currently constructed offensive line simply does not have the established names needed for playoff runs. The system, influenced by Alex Van Pelt, probably has to move away from old Patriot standards and evolve into a system tailored for Drake Maye. Although the loss of Matthew Judon is widely overrated, the defensive line lacks the depth to overcome any major injuries.

It’s going to be more of the same in the meantime, barring any typical NFL shake-ups. Drake Maye should come sometime in the next few weeks…