The New England Patriots’ dark days are over, and their recent winning ways, furthered by their latest win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 8, has them looked at as a contending team in the league with more severity.

ESPN ranked the Patriots No. 11 overall in their latest power rankings for Week 9.

New England secured a 24-19 victory over the Dolphins, which saw them improve to 5-3 on the year as a result. After facing a halftime deficit, the Patriots responded with a strong second-half performance, putting together three consecutive touchdown drives to complete the comeback and secure an important divisional win.

The victory demonstrated just how well the Patriots are functioning as a unit, with contributions coming from throughout the roster. Maye completed 16 of 20 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns while adding a rushing touchdown in the game. Defensively, Cory Durden delivered a surprising impact, recording 1.5 sacks and providing a boost to the Patriots' pass rush.

Now sitting just outside the top 10, New England might be able to climb further in the coming weeks with more winning play. Additional victories and continued consistency would strengthen the Patriots' reputation as legitimate contenders and put them among the league's top teams.

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