"Mike Vrabel's influence on the 2025 New England Patriots led to a Super Bowl run, defying the odds and proving that a rebuild can take multiple years, but that doesn't mean you can't have the ultimate success early on. And although they fell short in the biggest game, the foundation has been laid for a continued rise to the top, especially in the AFC East."
"One of their loudest supporters, former quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, is now regurgitating that prediction, going on his podcast with Andrew Whitworth to declare his confidence in his one-time team to take back the AFC East crown in 2026. "The Bills are going after [the Patriots] next year. The Bills are gonna retake the division Whit. I have a strong feeling about that." Ryan Fitzpatrick has a message for Bills Mafia after Super Bowl LX 👀@robinhoodapp pic.twitter.com/3z99hH5v4q- Fitz & Whit (@fitzandwhit) February 10, 2026"
"New England's poor performance in the Super Bowl was bound to bring out the doubters and rivals, who were quick to share their early confidence well ahead of the 2026 season. Although they weren't able to make it to the Championship game themselves, the rise and fall of Drake Maye was something many enjoyed, and that makes them feel more comfortable suggesting Josh Allen will get one over on New England next year to regain the division."
Mike Vrabel's coaching turned the 2025 New England Patriots into a Super Bowl team, accelerating a multiyear rebuild while laying a foundation for sustained success in the AFC East. The Patriots split the regular season series with the Buffalo Bills and proved capable of challenging Buffalo's recent dominance. The Super Bowl loss exposed weaknesses but did not erase the roster and scheme improvements that produced the run. Buffalo voices, including Ryan Fitzpatrick, have predicted a Bills rebound and retaking of the division in 2026. Recency bias fuels those claims, yet the Patriots remain legitimate contenders given roster trajectory and competitive divisional performance.
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