The one beauty of finishing in last place is you're subsequently "rewarded" with a last-place schedule the following season. New England is reaping the rewards after the Patriots' 2025 slate was released on Wednesday night.
New England's schedule - which opens with a home game against Las Vegas on Sept. 7 - is billed as the third easiest in the NFL.
That's good news for a reloading team, as it gives Patriots' fans hope that a playoff chase isn't impossible, even in a crowded AFC where it will likely take nine or 10 wins to sniff the playoffs.
How many wins can the Patriots get out of this slate?
Let's break things down a bit here. A 3-1 start is not impossible for the Patriots. Three of New England's first four games are at home and come against not-so-top competition in the Raiders, Panthers, and Steelers. There is a Week 2 trip to Miami sandwiched in there, and South Florida in September is a house of horrors.
October features road trips to Buffalo, New Orleans, and Tennessee, and a home game with the Browns, so 2-2 isn't too far-fetched. That puts the Patriots at 5-3 heading into November, with home games against the Jets and Falcons, split up with road trips to Tampa Bay and Cincinnati. Let's give the Patriots two home wins there, a loss in Cincy, and a close win in Tampa.
That leaves five games against the Giants - on Monday Night Football - the Jets, Bills, Ravens, and Dolphins. Can the Patriots squeeze two or three wins out of that stretch? Yes.
So, where does that put the Patriots? 11-6. That to me is the magic number to challenge for a postseason berth. And thanks to the combination of this schedule and a revamped roster, it's not impossible. Does it sound too optimistic? Probably not.
If everything clicks, the Patriots can shock the NFL landscape
Everything must come together perfectly for the Patriots to fulfill these expectations, but it can happen.
Under head coach Mike Vrabel, the defense has been rebuilt and is set up to succeed. That unit will keep Drake Maye and company within reach.
Speaking of Maye, the Patriots' second-year quarterback is set up to succeed and truly showcase his talents thanks to a revamped offensive line and receiving core. I still believe Stefon Diggs is going to have a strong year even though he's 31 years old and coming off a torn ACL. TreVeyon Henderson will be the lightning to Rhamondre Stevenson's thunder in the backfield, and Maye is certainly due for a breakout sophomore campaign and should have a chip on his shoulder after garnering some disrespect.
I have a feeling this year will mirror that of the 1994 Patriots, who made the playoffs in the second campaign of the Bill Parcells/Drew Bledsoe era. If so, the Foxboro faithful will undoubtedly consider the 2025 season a success.