Tom Brady’s tenure with the New England Patriots remains one of the most defining eras in NFL history. Across two decades, Brady delivered six Super Bowl championships, three MVP awards, and helped establish a dynasty that shaped the league’s modern era. His leadership and big plays turned New England into the sport’s gold standard, building a legacy that still defines the franchise’s identity to this day.
But after his departure to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020, where he won another championship, New England slipped dramatically – going from championship contender to regular-season disappointments, while struggling to find stability at quarterback.
Fast forward to 2025 and the Patriots are again the talk of the NFL. New England currently holds an 11-2 record, riding a 10-game winning streak after defeating the New York Giants in Week 13, marking their strongest surge since the height of the Brady era.
Their resurgence has made them the NFL’s hottest team, and the football world has taken notice.
Among those acknowledging the turnaround is Brady himself, who elevated the Patriots to No. 1 on his latest weekly power rankings.
“After a serious drought, the New England Patriots are number one in the power rankings. New England hasn’t played the league’s hardest schedule – it’s actually been the easiest – but this team passes the eye test and [Mike] Vrabel had them flying around on all three phases on Monday night,” Brady said.
He added that the Patriots enter their Week 14 bye at the perfect time: “Good timing to avoid a loss.”
A team @TomBrady knows VERY well has climbed into the No. 1 spot of his Power Rankings this week 👀👇 pic.twitter.com/EjJJJmqsHl
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 3, 2025
Much of New England’s revival stems from the rapid rise of second-year quarterback Drake Maye, who has grown into the franchise centerpiece the Patriots hoped for when they drafted him No. 3 overall in 2024. His command of the offense, improved accuracy, and poise in critical moments have drawn comparisons to early-career Brady.
Maye enters the bye with a league-leading 3,412 passing yards, 23 touchdowns and just six interceptions, a defining benchmark for a team that won only four games in 2024.
After their Week 14 break, the Patriots will travel to face the Buffalo Bills in Week 15 as they look to extend their impressive streak, with just four regular season games remaining.
Related: Patriots’ Historic Streak a Promising Sign for Super Bowl Hopes