The New England Patriots have started the season at 5-2, largely thanks to newly hired head coach Mike Vrabel.

The 50-year-old head coach transformed a Patriots team that won four games last year into a playoff contender and possibly AFC East champions.

Vrabel is one of seven head coaches who landed jobs this offseason, and his hot start led CBS Sports NFL writer Cody Benjamin to rank him as the No. 1 coach in that group.

“When Vrabel signed on to replace Jerod Mayo as the latest ex-Patriots linebacker-turned-coach, it was fair to wonder if New England was going too far down the well of Bill Belichick mentees,” Benjamin wrote on Wednesday. “Big-game hurdles still remain. But there’s no denying the Patriots are playing with a more united and authoritative posture.

“It helps Vrabel’s g

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