Over the last two seasons, the Patriots have taken up residence in an unfamiliar place to many fans around these parts - the AFC East cellar.
A combined record of 8-26 and no playoff appearances since 2021, along with zero postseason wins since Super Bowl LIII, have New England fans hungry to see a winner again. Most fans will be happy to see the team climb out of the basement.
With preseason predictions starting to pour in, many believe that New England will avoid a third straight last-place finish this season, including Bleacher Report's Moe Moton.
The Dolphins are on pace to replace the Patriots in the AFC East cellar
Moton's prognostication of teams that will take up last-place residency this season does not include the Patriots, with the Dolphins predicted to collect that dubious set of keys from New England.
That comes as no surprise given Miami has cleaned house with the recent trades of Jonnu Smith, Jalen Ramsey, and Tua Tagovailoa's injury history. Robert Kraft cleaned house this offseason, both in the coaching staff and in the locker room, obviously not wanting to see a third straight last-place finish and seeking some help for second-year quarterback Drake Maye.
Expectations for the Patriots remain somewhat modest, with a new coaching staff headlined by Mike Vrabel and Josh McDaniels and hoards of new players on both sides of the ball. Getting out of the cellar would give Patriots' fans hope, but can the team exceed those expectations?
Patriots will not only ascend from the cellar, but will win 10-plus games and make the playoffs
The Patriots have one of the league's easiest schedules, and aside from Buffalo, the AFC East isn't exactly loaded with heavyweight teams. It's not impossible to believe that New England will win 10 or 11 games and finish second behind the Buffalo Bills to earn a Wild Card berth.
Buffalo is the division's kingpin until further notice, and the Bills are clearly in Super Bowl or bust mode this year. The Patriots are probably another year and another piece or two away, particularly offensively, from being able to unseat the Bills, but seeing that the team is expected not to finish in last place is a good start.
The Patriots will have to mesh together quickly and take advantage of a soft September schedule that includes three home games and a road trip to the potentially basement-bound Dolphins, but if that happens, it could very well set the tone for a rebound season in Foxborough.