"The NFL world loves to take victory laps at the Patriots' expense, and those laps have been loud and proud. A team that banded together to win 17 games is now somehow a fraud. The quarterback, Drake Maye, who posted an undeniable All-Pro season and reached the Super Bowl in his first year as the full-time starter, suddenly can't win the big game."
"The Patriots' 2026 schedule is already fueling a massive overreaction Robinson's main point hinges on - you guessed it - the schedule. The Patriots faced the 32nd-strength-of-schedule in 2025, the easiest, and are poised to flip to the other end of that spectrum in 2026. New England's road opponents alone represent a major challenge, with the Bears, Chiefs, Lions, Jaguars, Chargers, and Seahawks all on their board as non-division foes."
Comparisons to the 2001 Patriots framed the 2025 team's unexpected run to Super Bowl LX, but a lopsided 29-13 loss to Seattle upended perceptions. The loss provoked harsh national reactions that labeled the 17-win team a fraud and questioned Drake Maye's ability despite an All-Pro season. Betting odds and analysts now give the Patriots long odds for a 2026 rebound, placing them among several mid-tier contenders. The Athletic's Jacob Robinson projects Seattle at 30 percent and New England at 5 percent. A dramatic flip in schedule difficulty and several tough road opponents amplify skepticism about immediate recovery.
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