It's no secret that the New England Patriots benefited from a weak 2025 schedule due to their awful 2024 season. The NFL structures the scheduling system that way, though some observers seem to feel that the Patriots assembled their own schedule. They didn't, and their Cinderella-like season with a record of 14-3 came as a result of the schedule the NFL set. Yet, some like CBS Sports continue to carry that illogic even now by still denigrating the Patriots' achievements.
By dethroning the Buffalo Bills, the Patriots will face a tougher schedule in 2026. Divisional winners pay that price. It is what it is, reality in the NFL. It's the NFL's attempt, along with the draft and salary cap, to try to achieve some parity among teams.
Whatever anyone thinks, the schedule the NFL puts before the team is the one they play. They have no say over what that is. And neither do they or any other NFL team have any impact on who's injured or not on any opposing team they play at any time during the season. Teams play whoever the NFL schedules, when it schedules them.
Regression with a tougher schedule is possible, but not guaranteed
The "benefit" of having a winning season is that your next season's schedule will reflect it. CBS Sports has suggested that the Patriots will be among the teams that regress in 2026, possibly by four or five wins, in their estimation.
"The 2025 AFC champion New England Patriots coasted to a 14-3 record while playing the easiest regular-season strength of schedule...since the 1999 Rams...Come playoff time, their path continued to provide soft landings. The Los Angeles Chargers were without both starting offensive tackles ... the Houston Texans were without their top two passing targets ... and the Denver Broncos had to start Jarrett Stidham, who hadn't thrown a pass in a game all season...It wasn't exactly a huge surprise that they fell behind the healthy Seahawks 19-0 in an eventual 29-12 Super Bowl defeat. This isn't to say New England will miss the playoffs in 2026, but they could easily see their regular-season record decline by four or five wins while playing a first-place schedule."
It's definitely a possibility. If you are the Patriots, it's incumbent on the personnel operation headed by Mike Vrabel to make the necessary offseason moves to meet the challenge of a tougher schedule. He has his quarterback, and that's half the battle toward sustained success.
Mike Vrabel has a major job on his hands in 2026
It's Mike Vrabel's responsibility to add players to his team as he did in 2025, who will upgrade the roster and help mitigate any regression from the 2025 Super Bowl team. The Patriots reached the Super Bowl, but their deficiencies were obvious. Vrabel patched up his dismal offensive line with four new 2025 starters. They were better, but not by that much. Surrendering 47 sacks in the regular season and another 21 in the postseason is nothing to write home about.
To improve, the O-line needs two or three additions who are better than the current cast. The two rookies who started on the left side, Will Campbell and Jared Wilson were OK, and they will improve. Wilson may be moved to center to replace Garrett Bradbury, who may be released. The right guard is Mike Onwenu, who's paid a tackle's salary to play guard. He's not worth the $25M he'd be paid this season. Cutting or trading him would save at least $17.5M in cap space that can be better spent elsewhere.
Vrabel also needs to add better edge players, especially if the emerging K'Lavon Chaisson leaves in free agency. The position screams for reinforcement. Two or three sack-producers are required, either from free agency or the draft. And there are other positions like tight end, running back, and maybe even wide receiver that may need help.
Mike Vrabel has his work cut out for him in the 2026 offseason. He aced every aspect of last year's version and is expected to shine again this year. He'd better, or predictions like that from CBS Sports or worse may very well be the result.