The 2025 season was not expected to be a very successful year for the Patriots, despite a highly motivated new head coach and a talented quarterback who already looked like he could be their next franchise player under center.
Because so many changes were made to the team, from top to bottom, it was assumed that they would be better than they were a year before, but wouldn't be a legitimate contender for a few more years.
So when they went on a 10-game win streak, eventually won the division, and represented the AFC in the Super Bowl, it was a shock to virtually everyone who watched the season unfold.
It immediately raised expectations ahead of the 2026 season, as Mike Vrabel proved he could lead a team that wasn't filled with the flashiest names to the ultimate goal, even if they fell short of winning another Lombardi Trophy. And because of that, fans have high hopes for what they can accomplish this fall, which is also becoming the standard in Robert Kraft's mind.
It's one of those things that is a blessing and a curse for any head coach, particularly one early in their tenure, but Vrabel now has his own big shoes to fill as long as he remains in New England.
Robert Kraft now has sky-high expectations for the Patriots after making it to the Super Bowl last season
That's essentially what Kraft said during an appearance on First Take last week, sharing his excitement about the Patriots' upcoming season and how he sees making the playoffs as the standard for the team once again, much like the years with Bill Belichick and Tom Brady.
It will be a difficult feat to accomplish this upcoming season, at least based on their schedule. But the roster is improved in a way that should make it a bit easier than what they're getting credit for, and nobody knows that better than Kraft.
"I'm feeling pretty good; Drake Maye is really special -- a very humble young man who knows how to relate. So I'm excited, but my sons always say, 'Calm down.' ... my expectations are 'We're going to make the playoffs every year.' If you make the playoffs, like we saw last year ..."
Citing last season's success certainly sets the tone for what he hopes the 2026 season will be, and Vrabel is fortunate that Kraft fell short of saying "making the Super Bowl" was among his new expectations, because that would be nearly impossible to replicate.
The Patriots are already in for a rough ride as they face a first-place schedule for the first time in many years, and many analysts are already writing them off as a contender in the AFC, with most anticipating they won't win the division or even make the postseason.
They're still discredited for what they accomplished in 2025, mostly due to what is referred to as a "cupcake schedule" and the notion that it propelled them into superstardom so quickly. But they have a quarterback who is on the rise, an upgraded receiving corps that is now led by A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs, an improved offensive line, and a top-10 defense to make it much easier.
Those are aspects that shouldn't be overlooked, and the Patriots have long been a team to prove the naysayers wrong, as they have historically thrived on doubt. They'll have to use it all for motivation this year, to keep their Super Bowl window open and to live up to what Kraft is (kind of) demanding.
Hopefully, they can do it.
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