FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and NFL:
1. Learning from 2001: The Patriots are honoring former kicker Adam Vinatieri at halftime of Sunday's game against the Las Vegas Raiders (1 p.m. ET, CBS) for his contributions to their first three Super Bowl championships, which coincides with more than 30 of Vinatieri's former teammates and coaches returning to celebrate the 25-year anniversary of the franchise's first title.
It's no wonder owner Robert Kraft was nostalgic this week, drawing a link between what he hopes the 2026 team might take from the magical out-of-nowhere 2001 squad.
"What the '01 team had was that everyone put team first, which was represented by how they came out of the locker room at the Super Bowl," Kraft said of the squad led by coach Bill Belichick, quarterback Tom Brady and a battle-tested defense that upset the Rams 20-17 in Super Bowl XXXVI. "When that happens, great things happen."
Another obvious link is that the current head coach, Mike Vrabel, was a linebacker on the '01 squad. Vrabel said this week that he was looking forward to connecting with former teammates at a Saturday dinner hosted by Kraft. The Patriots owner noted that what unfolded last week in Orchard Park, New York -- when the Patriots recorded a 29-26 win over the Bills -- felt like '01 vibes to him.
"There was no way anyone thought we were going to win that game, and our guys put team first," he said. "Drake [Maye] did some things that were spontaneous, like his runs, and we had some of our top players injured, in a tough place to play -- and we win.
"When you go back to this [2001] Super Bowl, we played the 'Greatest Show on Turf,' who had won the Super Bowl the year before, and we were the largest underdogs in the history of the game. No one gave us a chance, and there were these magical moments that happened."
Prior to the Super Bowl, Vinatieri delivered one of the most magical moments in Patriots history: a 45-yard field goal in the snow with 27 seconds remaining to tie the Raiders in the AFC divisional round of the playoffs, before kicking the game-winning 23-yarder in overtime.
Given that history, the Patriots chose Sunday's game against the Raiders to honor Vinatieri.
"He made those kicks and we couldn't even get the snow cleared out," Kraft said, calling it the greatest game ever hosted in the old Foxboro Stadium. It was also the last one, because the Patriots went on to beat the Steelers on the road in the AFC Championship Game before conquering the Rams one week later in New Orleans -- then opened Gillette Stadium the following year.
Kraft said he's looking forward to seeing Vinatieri and other players, coaches and their spouses this weekend, while hoping the current team can build off last week's upset win -- perhaps taking a cue from the special '01 celebration.
A lot of stars are making their return to Foxborough this weekend 🌟 https://t.co/oCZbGoRA6e
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 9, 2026
"We have a very young team now," Kraft said. "It's a wonderful thing for the future, but there is a big learning curve. People are putting team first, winning first.
"It's like the [Efton] Chism catch [last week] -- nobody would have dreamt that. Here's an undrafted free agent from last year who comes in early every morning and is working hard. A lot of our players are doing that. There's a camaraderie in the locker room that's unique with both of these teams. That's really encouraging."
2. A.J.'s presence: One thing that stood out from the Patriots' locker room last week was veteran receiver A.J. Brown's presence. He was more visible than he had been in prior weeks. Brown was wearing cleats, indicating he had been doing rehab work on the field as he works to return from a right high ankle sprain, and seemed to be in good spirits as he chatted with locker mate Drake Maye and others. Brown is eligible to return from the injured reserve list after Sunday's game against the Raiders.
3. Gonzalez's absence: Top cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who will miss his second straight game due to a shoulder injury, made a brief appearance in the locker room late Friday. Gonzalez, who wasn't wearing a sling, respectfully declined to share details on the injury that occurred during a Sept. 27 loss in Jacksonville that he played through that day. Gonzalez had said he was "good" after the game, but he might have been feeding off adrenaline.
4. Maye and Mendoza: Much like Raiders rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft who is backing up Kirk Cousins, Maye spent the early part of his first NFL season as the backup to a veteran in Jacoby Brissett. He reflected on how critical that was to his career this week -- watching how Brissett handled adverse situations, the media, locker room relations, etc. -- saying he's still in contact with Brissett regularly and considers him one of his best friends.
Maye also made it a point to salute Cousins, even though that wasn't the initial question, saying, "First off, I want to speak on Kirk. I got to know Kirk a little bit and it's fun to see a guy who has been through the battles on different teams playing great football."
5. Stat check: Here are some key numbers highlighting areas the Patriots are working to improve:
They have multiple turnovers in five straight games (including playoffs), which is the longest active streak in the NFL and the franchise's longest streak since 1996 (five straight).
Maye's nine turnovers are the most in the NFL and tied for most by any player in the first four games of a season in the past 10 years (Will Levis in 2024, Trevor Lawrence in 2021, Jared Goff in 2019, DeShone Kizer in 2017). They are the most turnovers by a Patriots' player in the first four games of a season since 1992 (Hugh Millen, 11).
Maye has been pressured on 44% of dropbacks this season, per ESPN Research, which is the second-highest rate in the NFL (Jalen Hurts leads with 48%).
6. Williams' time: If not now, then when for 2025 third-round pick Kyle Williams? The Patriots are thin at wide receiver this week without A.J. Brown and his replacement Mack Hollins (calf), leaving Romeo Doubs, DeMario 'Pop' Douglas, Efton Chism III and Williams as the only healthy receivers on the roster. That should mean Williams sees more snaps than the norm (64 snaps, 24.2%).
Williams has two receptions for 44 yards this season after totaling 10 for 209 yards and three touchdowns last year. Vrabel said Williams continues to improve, acknowledging "sometimes it's hard to hear that or believe that when you have to be able to see the football and get it."
7. Defensive goals: Veteran safety/captain Kevin Byard was buoyed by the defense forcing and recovering a fumble last week (linebacker Robert Spillane/outside linebacker Elijah Ponder), in addition to a late-game interception (safety Craig Woodson), but he noted the unit still hasn't met its standard. The Patriots have forced five turnovers this season.
"The goal every week is to get at least three. Haven't got there yet," he said.
8. TreVeyon's number: Sometimes a jersey number tells a meaningful story, and such is the case with second-year Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson. He said he wears No. 32 in honor of the memory of his grandfather on his mother's side, Albert Harris, who donned that number in high school and went by the nickname "Airplane." It's fitting because the speedy Henderson can fly.
"He passed away when my mom [Lakeesha] was really young," Henderson said. "I do it to honor my mom as well."
9. OL dinners: The weekly Patriots' offensive line dinner took place Thursday at Mooo...., a steakhouse in Boston. And as is often the case, Maye joined the group. Past locations this season included Karma Sushi, Luciano's Italian Restaurant and Capital Grille. Among the menu items that landed on the table this week were an American Wagyu Cap (served with lobster) and a Tomahawk steak that Maye and veteran Greg Van Roten enjoyed.
10. Did You Know: The Patriots have lost the past three games against the Raiders, and if they lose Sunday, it will tie the longest losing streak vs. the Raiders in franchise history (four straight, from 1967-69).
