Well, that eventually went the way we all expected, at least in some respects.
After the Patriots slept through the first half on Sunday against the Dolphins in all three phases, the defending AFC East champions finally woke up enough in the second half to lead by 11 for much of the fourth quarter before eventually escaping Miami with a 24-19 victory.
"I'll just have to do a better job of getting them prepared," a soggy Mike Vrabel said. "I'll be better and try to get them to understand that just because we start the game off well that you've got to continue to finish drives and get turnovers and let teams drive it 12 or 14 (plays) for touchdowns."
Everyone wants their team to get up on Sunday morning and steamroll their opponent, especially a team like the Dolphins that entered the matchup with one victory. But there are circumstances at play. You combine the location (Patriots Hell), a deluge for much of the day, and the fact that the Patriots are a MASH unit on offense — missing their top three receivers, having to go to third- and fourth-stringers at guard, and then losing Hunter Henry early in the second quarter — it just wasn't going to be an easy day at the ballpark.
But there are circumstances, and then there's looking like you just don't want to be there. And that's the way it looked as the Dolphins took a 13-3 lead at halftime.
The Patriots didn't really have this issue last season, probably because it was Vrabel's first season and everyone — especially the coach and quarterback — had something to prove every Sunday. The Patriots beat the Panthers by 29, Titans by 18, Browns by 19, Jets by 13, Giants by 18 and the Jets and Dolphins by a combined 60 in the final two games of the season. This season, the Patriots stomped the Raiders by 28 and eventually beat the Steelers by 17, but that game was still a game for way too long back when Drake Maye was struggling.
Last year, the Patriots were chasing something. This year, they're being chased ... and they're continuing to battle themselves, too, with self-inflicted wounds like penalties and turnovers.
"I think we hurt ourselves," Vrabel said. "Again, we just have to stay out of our own way."
In the end, Maye made enough plays, Rhamondre Stevenson ground out enough runs and picked passes off the turf, and the defense finally stopped making Malik Willis look like Lamar Jackson to finish off a victory that made the Patriots 3-0 in the AFC East.
But the Patriots need to get right pretty quickly, because they won't be able to play with their food the next two weeks as Green Bay (5-3) comes to Gillette, and the Patriots face the Lions (5-2) in Munich. Both games will present unique challenges for the Patriots and test some of their vulnerabilities.
The Packers' offense, despite Jordan Love and a lot of talent, shouldn't be a huge issue for the Patriots' defense because Green Bay's offensive line makes the Patriots' current makeup look like The Hogs.
It's Green Bay's defense, specifically against the pass, that will be a stern test for Maye and the Patriots.
Not only are they fourth in DVOA pass defense, but they are also 4th in EPA/DB behind only the Vikings, Bucs, and Seahawks. And it's the way they do it. I haven't studied them intensely on film, but from what I've seen, they very heavily rely on changing the coverage and pressure pictures post-snap. They do the kinds of things that have given Maye problems, especially early in the season against the Seahawks, Steelers and Jaguars.
The Packers haven't allowed more than 20 points since Week 3, and they've forced at least two turnovers in five straight games (13 total in that span). The Packers made a pretty good Panthers offense and a QB (Bryce Young) executing at a high level look like a popgun attack on Thursday night: 176 net passing yards, 3.7 yards per pass, six sacks, and 5 of 18 on third down.
Oh, and they played on Thursday night, so new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon has even more time to prepare for the unique challenges Maye presents.
And, oh, ho-hum, the Packers may get Micah Parsons back.
Vrabel knows the kind of challenge coming to Gillette, judging by his comments to the team in the locker room.
"We're 3-0 in the division, but we've got a huge one here at home next week," he said.
Stick together. Be the answer. https://t.co/9kiUYBVH7k
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) November 2, 2026
In Germany, the Patriots' offense won't have anything to worry about, as Detroit has one of the worst defenses in the league (very similar to Buffalo). But everyone knows what that offense can do with Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Sam LaPorta. The Lions will also be aided by facing the blitz-happy Patriots having just handed Blitz King Brian Flores and the Vikings their first loss (and the Lions will play in Miami before departing for Munich).
Basically, the Patriots are about to face two teams that have their kryptonite for each side of the ball. The Packers will throw a variety of coverages and blitzes at Maye. And the Lions are well-versed in playing against the blitz and have the best running back the Patriots have seen since Kenneth Walker in the Super Bowl.
It would be really helpful if the Patriots start to get healthy in a hurry. They could really use A.J. Brown, TreVeyon Henderson, Mack Hollins and Hunter Henry against the Packers.
It would be ideal if Harold Landry came off PUP in time for the Nov. 15 Germanfest.
Either way, these are going to be two very good tests where the Patriots will learn a lot about themselves heading into big matchups later in the season against the Bills, Vikings, Chiefs and Broncos — as opposed to Sunday's survive-fest against the lowly Dolphins.
Well, maybe the Patriots did learn something after a forgettable first half.
"It was a good opportunity for us to not be frontrunners and to have that; we can rely on that," he said. "That's going to be huge as we move forward."