The New England Patriots have emerged from seemingly out of nowhere to become one of the top teams in the NFL this season. Thanks in large part to the rapid development of second-year quarterback Drake Maye, the Pats are in the middle of a five-game win streak that has pushed their record to 6-2.

Heading into Week 9, New England is atop the AFC East division, while also holding the No. 2 seed in the AFC. Many folks expected the Patriots to take a step forward this season, but nobody could have predicted they would become this good, this fast.

While the team has undoubtedly benefited from a historically easy schedule, it feels like the sky's the limit for the Pats. And if you ask former college football superstar Manti Te'o, he believes that this squad is capable of making a postseason run this year.

"I don't think you can look at another team and see a bigger jump," Te'o said on "Good Morning Football." "Drake Maye and the Patriots, to me, are set up for a postseason run. They've been playing phenomenal."

At this stage of the game, the Patriots are ahead of schedule. Considering how they were expected to be a fringe playoff contender at best entering the year, the fact that they have been one of the best teams in the league continues to lead to expectations rising on a weekly basis.

How far the team can go this season remains to be seen, but Te'o is just the latest person to publicly acknowledge how good New England has been this year. The Pats will look to continue their winning ways in Week 9 when they square off against the Atlanta Falcons.