Like most football fans in New England, Rob Ninkovich liked what he saw Sunday night in Buffalo.

“We haven’t seen that in a long time, and I think the fans in general were so pumped up about that win, because we haven’t seen that,” the two-time Super Bowl champion told Phil Perry on the latest Next Pats Podcast. “Usually in that moment, they don’t come out with the win over the last five years.”

That win improved the Patriots to 3-2, and with a soft schedule ahead, many people are looking at this year’s team making a run to the playoffs.

Ninkovich, though, is pumping the brakes. For now, anyway.

“We were just talking about them being a completely different team when they were fumbling five times like two weeks ago, right? So at this point right now, I think the progress looks great,” Ninkovich said. “Right now, I’m not gonna say that they’re a playoff football team, because it’s only [five] weeks into the season. But I would say they look promising. They look like they’re improving week to week, and that’s what you want. So if they continue to do this then I would be very confident in saying around Thanksgiving, if I continue to see improvement, that they are 100 percent a playoff football team.”

Defending Drake Maye

During his playing days, Ninkovich’s job largely revolved around chasing down quarterbacks and bringing them down. Because of that background, Ninkovich said he felt frustration watching the Bills allow Drake Maye to do whatever he wanted on Sunday night.

“Well I was pretty frustrated watching Buffalo because they were letting him out of the pocket to his right. If you are a right-handed quarterback, it is much easier to throw from the run out of the pocket to your right than it is to go to your left,” Ninkovich said. “They did have a mirror guy on him but he was getting out of the pocket to his right, and we saw the throws that he was able to make.”

Ninkovich shared the approach he’d have to defending Maye — something opponents are likely to adapt after seeing the Bills game.

“If I was game-planning against a guy like Drake Maye, I would make sure my left defensive end didn’t get too high to where [Maye] could just get out of the pocket,” Ninkovich explained. “Make sure that you’re at a level rush to the quarterback to where he has to step up and out, because once you step up, the mirror guy’s able to get to you quicker instead of out of the back of the pocket.”

Mike Vrabel’s leadership

Ninkovich was also asked about the way head coach Mike Vrabel has handled Rhamondre Stevenson’s fumbling issues. That led to a longer discussion about Vrabel’s overall work building a team and culture.

“I think he’s handling it in the best way possible based on what the team needs and the talent levels that they have in that position,” Ninkovich said. “Vrabel is a former player so he understands how important the mental side of the game is. Listen, we all know football’s very physical when you’re out there, you’re getting beat up, you’re getting hit. But confidence goes a very long way when you’re playing football. So I think Vrabel understands, because he has been in that position, how much confidence and being on the field when people believe in you goes, and how far that goes in the NFL.

“I think he’s making sure that he continues to give confidence, boost the players up, because at the end of the day, you need your players. You need your guys on the field. You’re never gonna get through that issue if you just bench the guy, because you don’t know how he’s gonna react to that.”

Ninkovich has also been impressed with the way that Vrabel — an old-school coach who played in a completely different generation — has adapted to be able to connect with the modern generation of players.

“We have to change with the times. And now these players are a little bit different. They’re a little bit different, I’m not gonna lie here,” Ninkovich said. “But I think Vrabel has done a good job as a former player and a coach, he has the best of both worlds here to understanding, how do I push this team? How do I bring the team together, not drive a divide in between this team? We’re bringing guys together form all different age groups, backgrounds. Bring them together, let’s win together as a team, let’s build this together, and he’s doing a good job so far this season.”

Also in this episode:

Phil breaks down why Drake Maye has been even more impressive than you think through five weeks.

Ninkovich explains why Maye’s play on the field will make him a stronger leader in the locker room.

Phil shares his latest round of college players to keep an eye on ahead of next year’s draft.

Phil opens up the mailbag to answer your questions.