New England Patriots Land Bold Prediction Ahead of 2026 Season

The New England Patriots are entering the 2026 season after making a surprising trip to the Super Bowl in 2025.

While they are coming off a great season, the Patriots will have a tougher schedule as they look to repeat as AFC East Champions. 

With the tougher schedule, Jacob Robinson of The Athletic has the Patriots finishing 10-7 and in second place in the AFC East behind the Buffalo Bills. 

New England will have a tougher schedule, with matchups against the Bills (twice), Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, Denver Broncos, and more. The Patriots will be looking for quarterback Drake Maye to have another MVP-caliber season.

Maye finished second in MVP voting in 2025, as he completed 72 percent of his passes for 4,394 yards, 31 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. The 23-year-old quarterback also rushed for 450 yards and four touchdowns.

He was a very efficient passer and played at a high level throughout the season. However, New England also improved the weapons around him this offseason, trading for star wide receiver AJ Brown and signing Romeo Doubs in free agency.

Brown appeared in 15 games for the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2025 season, finishing with 78 receptions for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns. He is a dynamic weapon and a major upgrade over anyone in New England's receiving room in 2025.

Doubs is also a solid addition, as he had 55 receptions for 724 yards and six touchdowns in the 2025 season with the Green Bay Packers. With the new weapons on offense, Maye is poised to build upon his breakout campaign.

On the defensive side of the ball, New England needs to get more out of their pass rush. That was one of their biggest weaknesses in the 2025 season, but the Patriots were aggressive in upgrading the position by adding Dre’Mont Jones and Gabe Jacas.

Jones is coming off a season in which he recorded seven sacks, while Jacas was the 55th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

The Patriots have an uphill climb to get back to the Super Bowl with a tougher schedule, but they have the talent to be an AFC contender.