The Patriots didn't finish the way their 2001 ancestors did. Let's hope they don't produce a similar follow-up season, either.

"In the end, the many parallels the 2025 Patriots drew during their unexpectedly wonderful season to the beloved 2001 edition cannot include the comparison everyone wanted the most. Those 2001 Patriots stand alone as the most improbable champion in franchise history, and perhaps NFL history. A victory over the Seahawks in Super Bowl LX might have put this season's Patriots in their company, given the combined 8-26 record the previous two seasons."

"While these Patriots ponder the lingering what-ifs and begin to find out which scars will last and which ones will fade, the page turns to next season and what comes next. (I have a great appreciation for what Vrabel did in his first year as the Patriots coach and how he did it - turns out you can treat people like human beings and still go 17-4 - but I will admit to wondering what Belichick's defensive game-plan might have looked like against Seattle.)"

"It's logical to presume that the 2026 Patriots will have a worse regular-season record than this season, when they went 14-3 and won 10 straight games while playing - stop me if you've heard this 1,960 times before - a historically easy schedule. I'll say this preemptively: there would be no shame in going, say, 12-5 or even 11-6 next year versus a much tougher schedule, which will include home games versus the Broncos, Packers, and Vikings, and road matchups against the Bea"

The 2025 Patriots produced an unexpectedly wonderful season, drawing many parallels to the 2001 championship team but lacking the defining comparison to that dynasty. The 2001 team remains the most improbable champion in franchise and possibly NFL history, making replication exceptionally difficult. A Super Bowl loss to the Seahawks underscored quarterback Drake Maye's severe struggles and several curious strategic decisions by coach Mike Vrabel and his staff. Vrabel earned praise for a 17-4 debut season and a people-first approach. Expectations for 2026 include a tougher schedule and a realistic possibility of a slightly worse regular-season record such as 12-5 or 11-6.

Read at Boston.com