Are We Really Doing This? Patriots at 5-3 and in the Playoff Hunt

Pinch me, Pats Nation. After that dominant win over the Jaguars, your New England Patriots sit at 5-3 and firmly in the AFC playoff picture. Is this really happening?

Nobody — and I mean nobody — predicted this start. The talking heads had us picking top-5 in next year's draft, and instead we're talking about wildcard berths and potential division contention. Drake Maye has exceeded every expectation, the defense is elite, and there's a swagger about this team that we haven't seen since the dynasty days.

The second half of the schedule gets tougher, but this team has shown it can compete with anyone. The win over Buffalo proved we belong, and the Jacksonville blowout showed we can put teams away.

Stay hungry, stay humble. But also — it's okay to get excited. This team is for real.

Based on reporting from ESPN