From Week 1 all the way to the Super Bowl, the 2025 New England Patriots had to deal with the same lazy narrative: "You're playing an easy schedule!" "You're not for real!" "You guys are flukes!" Not even reaching the final game of the season silenced the critics.
Of course, this organization and its fans are more than used to dealing with outside noise and criticism. What they didn't expect was friendly fire coming their way, and hearing Rob Gronkowski contribute to that narrative probably wasn't on Patriots fans' 2026 bingo card.
In an interview with Outkick, the legendary tight end chimed in on several issues, including the Patriots' inconsistent start to the season. And while he said they're a playoff-caliber team, he also admitted the tougher schedule might be a factor this season.
Patriots legend Rob Gronkowski says the schedule is definitely a factor
"Their schedule definitely was pretty, pretty simple last year. They’re playing tougher opponents this year, tougher defenses. I think that has more to play with it," Gronkowski said. "I definitely think the schedule plays a part in it for sure. It really does."
Granted, we won't sit here and pretend that the schedule doesn't have any effect on a team's success or lack thereof. That said, everyone has to beat whoever is in front of them, and saying that's the only reason they made it that far would be lazy and inaccurate.
Also, that should work both ways, but we haven't seen anyone giving the Patriots a pass for losing to the defending Super Bowl champions on the road or to the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field while undermanned and in a short week.
The Patriots dominated the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers, took Josh Allen's lunch money with a big road win over the Buffalo Bills, and crushed a Las Vegas Raiders team that was 3-1 at the time.
Then, they won two divisional games, which are always complicated, regardless of the opposition. Does the schedule count there?
At the end of the day, Mike Vrabel and company can only focus on what they can control. They didn't hand-pick their opposition, and they must prepare the same way to play a Super Bowl contender as they do a team thinking about draft positioning.
Gronk gave the team some credit, and the fans should call him out for sharing his valid thoughts on the situation. But hopefully these comments will only add even more fuel to the locker-room fire to prove everyone (even a franchise legend) wrong.
The Pats are fighting through injuries and will always be the team everyone loves to hate. They have to win regardless of the context and leave the naysayers with no excuses.
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