The New England Patriots reaped the benefits of a soft 2025 schedule. It was what it was, the result of the NFL's attempt to bring parity to the league's bad teams (see the 2024 Patriots' version) by giving its worst teams. It worked for the 2025 Patriots, who rebounded from 2024's debacle and made their way all the way to the Super Bowl before flaming out.
The resulting winner's tough 2026 schedule, though, has now drawn out multiple naysayers, and one, Fox Sports' Eric Williams, made a few bold predictions about the 2026 season, one of which isn't very positive about the New England Patriots.
"Well, fast-forward to this season and Vrabel is now dealing with off-the-field distractions. The Patriots are also coming off a Super Bowl where they were dominated ... losing in ugly fashion to the Seattle Seahawks. And ... the Patriots will travel the fifth-most miles this season (27,590). The inevitable addition of No. 1 receiver A.J. Brown should help an offense that lacks explosive plays and moved on from the team’s best receiver in Stefon Diggs this offseason.
But the Patriots have the sixth-hardest schedule in the league. The Patriots face nine playoff teams from last season...The previous two Super Bowl losers failed to have a winning record the following season, with the 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs stumbling in each of the last two years. Expect the Patriots to follow a similar path."
Patriots' predicted Super Bowl hangover won't happen if things fall into place
William's prediction could happen. His points are all well-supported. Yet several factors may cause it to fall apart. The first is that when you have the NFL's best passer, Drake Maye, who's also very mobile, leading your offense, good things usually happen, one way or another. He can pass it with the best and also run it exceptionally well.
That latter attribute was necessary too often in 2025 since his offensive line was subpar and allowed sacks, hurries, and quarterback hits by the bushel-full. The resultant offseason moves to rectify that situation were to sign a free agent guard, Alijah Vera-Tucker, and draft a left tackle, Caleb Lomu, with their first-round pick. Both were significant investments.
If both pan out, the Patriots' offense could be much better than in 2025. Yet, there are qualifiers. Vera-Tucker is injury-prone. He missed the entire 2025 season due to injury. Meanwhile, Lomu, as talented as he is (the former Utah Ute gave up zero sacks in 2025), is still a rookie.
Yet, if Vera-Tucker can stay on the field and Lomu can fill in, maybe even at all four O-line positions other than center, things could improve significantly.
The offensive line is key, and the offense's success will depend, to some extent, on them. Yet if Maye can stay healthy (he didn't for all of 2025, and it cost them in the Super Bowl), his running can compensate for many shortcomings up front.
Another plus is that the team invested in the wide receiver position in the offseason, signing solid free agent Romeo Doubs. They may go one better if they pull off the anticipated trade with Philadelphia for true No. 1 receiver, A.J. Brown.
They also drafted a big tight end in the third round, Eli Raridon. If he can contribute as a receiver, he'll be another arrow in Maye's quiver.
On defense, Vrabel improved the edge position by signing Dre'Mont Jones, who produces sacks and stops the run, and he added a top sackman in second-round draft pick, Gabe Jacas of Illinois. While inside linebacker depth is almost non-existent, the Patriots improved at safety.
They signed first-team All-Pro Safety Kevin Byard III. He'll join Christian Gonzalez and the rest of the defensive backfield, which may just emerge as the NFL's best unit.
No doubt, there are some big "ifs" that have to materialize if the Patriots are to avoid that "hangover" Williams predicts. Yet, as the Patriots saw for two decades with Tom Brady at quarterback, when you have one of the best in the NFL at the helm, you can overcome a plethora of obstacles.
The Patriots have Drake Maye, who'll be healthy and even better than the player who should have won the NFL MVP Award in 2025. He's worth a lot in the win column all by himself.
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