Patriots followers say they’re excited that the Mike Vrabel period has begun in Foxboro, however they must wait just a little longer to see the brand new head coach earn his first win at Gillette Stadium.
New England misplaced its season opener at residence to Las Vegas on Sunday, 20-13, with followers letting out loud boos as they began to exit the stadium earlier than the Week 1 dud got here to an finish.
Sterling resident Steve Maynard, a season ticket holder for 15 years, stayed by means of all of it.
He joined fellow season ticket holders on the sphere after the sport, attempting to take the loss in stride and stay optimistic.
With the Patriots beginning 0-1, Maynard advised the Herald he has tempered his expectations. He predicted the hometown workforce would win 10 video games, however now he mentioned he hopes they will get no less than eight.
“Everybody was hyped,” Maynard mentioned of the in-stadium vibes earlier than opening kickoff, “but when you got into the fourth quarter, and we were down by 10 points, that was slipping away.”
“We have the coaching staff and leadership to right the ship,” he added. “I don’t think it’s going to happen immediately, but I think eventually it will turn around.”
The Patriots’ offense went chilly within the second half, mustering a subject purpose from rookie Andres Borregales with simply 22 seconds left. The depressing efficiency matched Sunday’s dreary, moist climate – situations extra usually seen later within the fall.
Boos began to ring out with 4:53 left within the fourth quarter after the Patriots’ offense jumped offsides, taking quarterback Drake Maye and his weapons off the sphere and away from going for it on 4th and 5, nearer to midfield.
The tailgating scene returned up and down Route 1, with followers turning out early and infrequently, grilling up their favourite pregame snacks whereas boozing and rocking workforce attire.
Forward of the draft this previous April, fan Johnny Occean believed the Patriots may have gained 10 to 11 video games this season. He has halted these expectations a bit after the best way the remainder of the league shook out throughout the offseason.
Occean mentioned he predicts New England will hover round .500, at both eight or 9 wins.
“It will be a really competitive year,” he advised the Herald. “I am excited to see where they can go. There is a lot of hope.”
That optimism stems from Vrabel main the workforce as an alternative of Jerod Mayo, who faltered drastically after a stunning Week 1 win final season in Cincinnati. Proprietor Robert Kraft fired the first-year head coach in January after the workforce completed 4-13 for the second straight 12 months.
Michael Younger, of East Falmouth, has organized the “Tailgater 2000” because the 1998 season. He recounted his pleasure for Mayo earlier than heading throughout Route 1 on Sunday after he held an enormous celebration for fellow followers within the morning.
“It was a disaster, obviously,” Younger mentioned of the Mayo expertise. “Going into this year with Vrabel, a lot more optimism.”
Younger’s tailgate, in the midst of a car parking zone throughout the street from Patriot Place, options all of it: A bus full of Patriots merchandise and a TV, trays of grilled rooster, steak, shrimp, and different goodies, a dwell band and yard video games.
Gerry McCarthy, of Sandwich, has been a season ticket holder since 1980 and serves as a key voice to the Tailgater 2000, providing tons of of followers a prayer – a poem he writes as a rallying cry.
“It was a party last year, and if a football game breaks out, so be it,” McCarthy advised the Herald. “This year, I have a lot of optimism. I have heard people talking about 11 wins and all of that. I don’t see 11 wins. … If we make it to eight this year, and we have one or two other games where we are competitive, then this was a big success, and we continue to build next year.”
