Owners of the best record in the NFL, the New England Patriots will close out Week 13 with a matchup against the New York Giants on Monday Night Football. For the team of head coach Mike Vrabel, it will be another opportunity to show the nation that it is indeed a legitimate contender for the top playoff seed in the AFC, and to build some momentum heading into the upcoming bye.
The game taking place on Monday also allowed players an opportunity to take the day off on Thanksgiving while still getting three days’ worth of practice in. With that all said, here is a holiday version of our
Sunday Patriots Notes.
Marcus Jones a ‘model of consistency’ in career year
The Patriots’ 2022 draft class has been a major disappointment: three years later, only one of 10 players remains with the organization. That player, however, has been one of its best performers so far this season.
Marcus Jones entered the final year of his rookie contract facing questions about his fit in New England’s new-look defense, but he since has left no doubt about that or his future with the club. He fought off all competition for the slot cornerback role during the offseason and training camp, and was voted a team captain before the start of the regular season.
Since then, he has elevated his game to new heights and put his signature under a three-year, $36 million contract extension. Jones is playing the best football of his career, and accordingly has a legitimate case to be recognized as a Pro Bowler or All-Pro nickel defender.
For his position coach, his success is neither a surprise nor something that happened by accident.
“He just is consistent. He’s a model of consistency,” cornerbacks coach Justin Hamilton told reporters this week at Gillette Stadium.
“The way he takes care of his body, the way he takes care of his routine, the way he takes care of his schedule, the way he takes care of his off the-field life. Everything that he does is with a purpose. Everything that he does is with a plan, and everything that he does is he gives his all to it. I’ve got a high amount of respect for that.”
Appearing in all 12 games this season, Jones is ranked fifth on the team with 569 defensive snaps (78.9%). He has made the most of them, registering a team- and career-high three interceptions — including one returned for a touchdown in Week 12 against Tennessee. He also notched his first career sack, all while still continuing to be one of the best punt returners in football.
On top of his on-field accomplishments, he also does the “C” on his jersey proud. The first-time captain has emerged as somebody his teammates are gravitating toward, a true tone-setter on defense and in the kicking game.
“It’s that’s the way that a guy that’s 5-foot-8, 5-foot-9 and under 200 pounds can be an impact player in the NFL — through that work ethic, through that attention to detail and intentional habits, which is what he has,” added Hamilton. “It’s been awesome to see and his teammates feed off of that, and hopefully that will continue.”
Contract extension candidates aplenty
Marcus Jones is the most recent Patriot to sign a contract extension with the club, but there are multiple candidates worthy of receiving a new deal as well. Tops among them are the four of the seven total players headed for unrestricted free agency next spring: tight end Austin Hooper, defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga, outside linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson and safety Jaylinn Hawkins.
All four have played prominent roles for the Patriots this season. Hooper is the team’s No. 2 tight end and a valuable blocker; Tonga has been a top-three guy along the interior defensive line; Chaisson is tied for the team lead with 6.5 sacks; Hawkins is a 100% player on defense and in the midst of his own career season.
The Patriots showing interest in retaining all of them would not be a surprise.
Tackling success a major development
Earlier in the season, tackling was a major issue for the Patriots. Over the first two games, the team missed 25 total attempts to rank near the bottom of the league in tackling efficiency.
Fast forward to Week 13, and the Patriots are on the other end of the spectrum. Through their 12 games so far, they have missed 76 tackle attempts for an average of 6.3 per game. Only the Detroit Lions (5.9) and Chicago Bears (6.1) are better than that — a remarkable turnaround that has contributed to New England’s recent success.
Mike Vrabel gives insight into new signing
The Patriots had to shuffle their roster coming out of last week’s game against the Bengals. One of the moves was bringing back offensive tackle Thayer Munford Jr, who previously had a brief stint on the team’s active roster. Munford Jr. was added to the 53-man roster this time around to provide depth with starting left tackle Will Campbell on injured reserve.
“He was here. At this point in time of the season, there’s only so many options,” said Mike Vrabel about signing Munford Jr. “It is what it is. He was here. He was somebody that learned our system and has been working. I felt like this gives us some options here with the guys that we have, and then bringing him in as well.”
Elijah Ponder taking ownership of ED3 role
Elijah Ponder’s season has been a success already. Joining the Patriots as an undrafted free agent out of Cal Poly, Ponder managed to make the initial 53-man roster and has not looked back since: originally a depth option on the edge, he steadily developed and is now the No. 3 at the position behind starters Harold Landry and K’Lavon Chaisson — quite the development given his background.
According to his position coach, Mike Smith, it all comes back to Ponder’s intelligence and veteran-like ability to make use of his skillset.
“He’s smart for his age. He’s well above a rookie,” Smith said. “He still got the rookie stuff that you’ll see; you’re like, ‘What the heck were you thinking, something like that?’ But he just moves like a vet. He’s very smooth. He’s strong. He’s starting to understand the leverage and stuff. Sometimes I just watch him with B-Mac — Ben MacAdoo — and we both sometimes just stop and look at each other like, ‘Wow, that was pretty impressive that he can bend like that at that size.’ He’s another guy that can play multiple positions.
“Like I said from the beginning, that kid’s got a bright future. … He’s just getting better every week. There are still a handful of things he’s got to work on and always got to work on, but he’s just a kid. We’re lucky to get him. He was a great find. He’s a great one.”
Terrell Williams update
Patriots defensive coordinator Terrell Williams continues to be away from the team while undergoing treatment for a recent prostate cancer diagnosis. This week, Mike Vrabel gave a brief update on the 51-year-old.
“I’d say he’s continuing to improve from a health standpoint,” Vrabel said. “It’s a process in the treatment, but I would say that he did everything that he could to get himself ready for the treatment, for the chemo, and so, therefore, I think that he’s responded well. It’s good to see him continuing to have good weeks, and then come in and see us when he feels up to it, which he has.”
Josh McDaniels raves about Hunter Henry
Coming off his most productive game of the season, Hunter Henry received some praise from his offensive coordinator. Josh McDaniels spoke highly about the tight end, who he already coached back in 2021 and is again making a vital part of his offense in his latest go-around in 2025.
“He’s an incredible teammate. He’s one of the most respected workers on our team without question every day,” McDaniels said about the team captain. “He’s ready to go, takes great care of his body, is able to go out there and rep things at full speed after so many years of being in the league. I think he’s continuing to get better at things, which is an incredible example for our younger players. He’s dependable. He studies. He’s well prepared.
“Just anything you ask him to do, whether it’s for him to have success statistically or someone else, it doesn’t make any difference. He’s going to do it to the best of his ability to try to help the team win. And I think his only goal is for us to win at the end of the day. One of the most unselfish people I’ve ever been around. Great leader, great teammate. Incredibly fortunate to have a chance to coach him.”
Through 12 games this season, Henry is the most-used among the Patriots’ skill position players, being on the field for 638 offensive snaps (82%). He is tied for first on the team in receiving touchdowns (5) and ranked second in both catches (41) and receiving yards (537).
Giants in a similar boat as the 2024-25 Patriots
Had their 2023 game gone differently, Drake Maye might have landed with the New York Giants rather than the New England Patriots. He didn’t, however, which means that the Patriots’ Week 13 opponent seem to be a year behind in their current development.
The Giants, after all, find themselves in a similar boat as New England last year. They seem to have found a quarterback worth building around — first-round rookie Jaxson Dart has performed convincingly in his seven starts so far — but are facing major decisions on their coaching staff: Brian Daboll has already been fired, with offensive coordinator Mike Kafka taking over as interim.
Kafka has made further changes, including firing defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, in hopes of finishing the season strongly. If the Giants do, could Kafka get a true crack at the job, particularly given his close ties to Dart? That is a question similar to the one the Patriots had to face toward the end of their 2024 campaing.
Ultimately, they decided to cut ties with not just head coach Jerod Mayo but most of his offensive staff as well. The results have been positive for New England: with Mike Vrabel taking over as HC and Josh McDaniels returning as offensive coordinator, the team has taken a major step forward while its quarterback has played a Pro Bowl-caliber level.
Community impact in the spotlight
For the Patriots, Thanksgiving was not just a time for family but also for helping those in need. That included the Patriots Foundation’s 32nd annual
Thanksgiving-In-A-Basket community drive. Several players, including quarterback Drake Maye, tight end Hunter Henry and cornerback Christian Gonzalez, participated in last week’s event in Roxbury. Over 200 Thanksgiving-themed baskets were handed out.
“It’s really impressive,” said team owner Robert Kraft, who also was present. “To give back to the community is so uplifting. We appreciate the chance to use our platform for something special and something positive.”
Week ahead
With Monday Night Football on the horizon and the bye week after that, the Patriots’ schedule for the next few days will look different than usual. Let’s break it down.
- Monday, Dec. 1: Patriots vs. Giants (8:15 p.m. ET)
- Tuesday, Dec. 2: Patriots media availability (Mike Vrabel, locker room)
- Wednesday, Dec. 3: No media availability
- Thursday, Dec. 4: No media availability
- Friday, Dec. 5: No media availability
- Saturday, Dec. 6: No media availability
- Sunday, Dec. 7: No media availability
The Patriots will then return to work on Monday, Dec. 8, to star preparations for their stretch run — starting with a Week 15 game against the visiting Buffalo Bills.
