Can the Patriots do what the Houston Texans did quickly under new leadership?

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Been a while but my thought after watching the Texans dismantling the Chargers yesterday ..

The Texans give me hope that our Patriots can do exactly what they did within 3 years from laughing stock to division champs.

Just a few years ago the Texans was horrid on both offense and defense and made the move to clear out coaching and sign a head coach who was a linebacker for his team previously with Ryans just like Vrabel is going to do.

Demeco Ryans and his new staff then proceeded to draft the quarterback of the future in the early round and added pieces in Free Agency like Houston getting Diggs and Mixon who both have playoff experience - (perhaps Harris,A. Jones or Chubb at RB and Higgins or Godwin at WR).

I could see Vrabel capable of doing the same since he already has his QB in place and a ton of money to spend in FA for some receiving talent like Diggs (who they are still winning without) and hopefully hires a GM to be able to actually draft and if all goes like it did for Houston maybe this team can speed up to Championship contention quicker than later.

I got a feeling we are going to be turning the corner after 5 years of Futility - The future is bright (at least I have hopes it will)

 

[Water Boy]

I think the corner is in sight. Next year is about Vrabel laying the foundation and vision. Wish it was a better FA and Draft class. We are more than just a few players away.

 

[Family]

I got a feeling we are going to be turning the corner after 5 years of Futility - The future is bright (at least I have hopes it will)

Yes!

With the schedule we should be a borderline playoff team next year.

 

[Wozzy]

They need a great offseason.

If they bolster both lines, offensive and defensive, there's no reason they can't be competitive immediately...

They could have been competitive this year, but collaboration and coaching was a disaster.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

They need a great offseason.

If they bolster both lines, offensive and defensive, there's no reason they can't be competitive immediately...

They could have been competitive this year, but collaboration and coaching was a disaster.

Drafting as well hurt badly ...This team just can't pick a stud WR if Jesus himself came down from the heavens and told Kraft who to draft - this must end if this team is going to improve quickly - can't rely on 30 year old veteran WRs to do everything.

 

[archstanton543]

Drafting as well hurt badly ...This team just can't pick a stud WR if Jesus himself came down from the heavens and told Kraft who to draft - this must end if this team is going to improve quickly - can't rely on 30 year old veteran WRs to do everything.

He doesn't believe in Him so, he wouldn't listen anyway.

 

[signbabybrady]

I think the corner is in sight. Next year is about Vrabel laying the foundation and vision. Wish it was a better FA and Draft class. We are more than just a few players away.

If the players are good let's take on some salary dumps for other teams. We need talent wherever we can get it and the draft and free agency probably won't be enough.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Alot can change but the schedule looks pretty favorable. If they do even the bare minimum this offseason and upgrade the trenches/wr/CB they could compete for a playoff spot.

 

[ScottishPatriots]

It helps the Texans have 6 games against bad teams in division, that has to be factored in.

Jacksonville and Tennessee are 2 of the worst teams in the league that's a massive help and the Colts are constantly floating around .500, they don't have a Buffalo who's going to be winning 12-13 games they can win 9/10 games and get a home playoff game the Patriots are playing real opponents in division.

The Texans can sleepwalk to 5 wins in division that makes life easier when you're only having to go 5-6 against the rest of your schedule to get a home playoff game, unless Josh Allen gets hurt the Patriots won't have that luxury.

 

[Huckleberry1]

If the reports that they are going to start by building the trenches are accurate then I definitely think they will definitely be heading in the right direction. Addressing the OL and DL in free agency will give them far more flexibility in the draft, and lay the best possible foundation for their future.

 

[JohnJH]

Whenever I'm posed with any question, I ask myself: Is it impossible? If the answer is No, then it becomes a question of Probability. And when it comes to Probability, that's where the real work begins in order to answer the rest of a question. At present, I know it's not Impossible. I just don't yet know what the Probability is. I'll have a better idea once the Staff is filled out and what happens with Free Agency and The Draft.

 

[maust]

If Josh Allen steps in front of a bus the Pats could possibly win the division in less than three years
Not that I'm wishing an unfortunate encounter with mass transit on anyone not named tyREEK

 

[Vindicate]

It's not just the Texans; the Commanders turned it around quick, the Bengals turned it around quick - there has been a shift in eras in the NFL, from coaching to QB's to other players, and I think it leaves a rapidly shifting playing field that makes quick ascents more likely. So, I think yes.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Given that the overall talent in the NFL has been dropping of for years, they have a shot to turn it around. They have lots of cap room and high draft picks.

 

[scott99]

Have to get Maye some weapons. Look at the weapons Stroud has. Mixon, Collins, Dell, Diggs (injured). Even Metchie is better than most of our WRs not named Douglas or Boutte.

I give credit to Douglas, he’s a solid slot receiver, not as explosive as I thought he’d be, but solid. And do we really know what we have in Boutte ? He had a solid 2nd season, and seemed to have a nice connection with Maye. He seemed to be our deep threat. But they really need more explosive weapons, ones teams have to worry about.

Also, the Texans have decent defense (14th in points against). Will Anderson Jr is a beast, Danielle Hunter had 12 sacks, Derek Stingley Jr is a star in the secondary.

Need a lot more talent to have the turnaround the Texans had.

 

[Ross12]

Easier games:
Browns (home)
Falcons (home)
Giants (home)
Panthers (home)
Raiders (home)
Jets (home)
Jets (away)
Titans (away)
Saints (away)

Harder games:
Steelers (home)
Bills (home)
Dolphins (home)
Bills (away)
Dolphins (away)
Bengals (away)
Buccaneers (away)
Ravens (away)

Schedule is not too hard, they have more home games than away games, and most of their home games are easier. If the Dolphins take a step back as expected then they may become an easier matchup also. Several of the “harder” games have defenses you can score on - if the Pats get a good OC, a WR1 and make some progress with fixing the OL then they can do some damage.

Not expecting a winning season or playoffs but it’s possible. Around 7 wins feels more like a reasonable goal.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Have to get Maye some weapons. Look at the weapons Stroud has. Mixon, Collins, Dell, Diggs (injured). Even Metchie is better than most of our WRs not named Douglas or Boutte.

I give credit to Douglas, he’s a solid slot receiver, not as explosive as I thought he’d be, but solid. And do we really know what we have in Boutte ? He had a solid 2nd season, and seemed to have a nice connection with Maye. He seemed to be our deep threat. But they really need more explosive weapons, ones teams have to worry about.

Also, the Texans have decent defense (14th in points against). Will Anderson Jr is a beast, Danielle Hunter had 12 sacks, Derek Stingley Jr is a star in the secondary.

Need a lot more talent to have the turnaround the Texans had.

Been rooting for Stingley Jr since he came in the league,in fact I was hoping we would draft him - his bloodline has Patriots legend running thru those veins

 

[PWRxWLF]

Not sure if we can have as fast as a turn around. The front office situation in Houston is much more stable. We need to rebuild the trenches on both sides of the ball with a weak draft and free agency class coming up. Might take us a bit longer to get there. At this point, I’ll take improvement. Let’s just get back to having what resembles an nfl team.

 

[Toofy]

Draft BPA . Get Graham or Carter in first round unless raiders trades up with us giving a 2026 first rounder .

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Not sure if we can have as fast as a turn around. The front office situation in Houston is much more stable. We need to rebuild the trenches on both sides of the ball with a weak draft and free agency class coming up. Might take us a bit longer to get there. At this point, I’ll take improvement. Let’s just get back to having what resembles an nfl team.

I've seen 'prognosticators' in social media saying some drafts were 'weak' only to see a lot of studs eventually becoming all pros and HOFers - don't believe everything.