A new win total for the New England Patriots shows that regression could be coming to the team in 2026.
After falling short in the Super Bowl, the New England Patriots will be looking to duplicate their success from last season.
However, the Patriots didn't just sit on their hands when it comes to the roster. Instead, the team brought in multiple pieces on offense to address the problems that were exposed in the Super Bowl.
The team traded for star wide receiver A.J. Brown, giving them a legitimate weapon for quarterback Drake Maye to throw the ball to. Brown offers the Patriots someone that Maye can go to in clutch situations, which the team didn't have last season.
New England also signed Romeo Doubs, giving them more depth across the wide receiver room. This should help the Patriots be a more well-rounded team, offering them a better chance to take home the title.
Maye fully broke out this past season, showing what he could do in the NFL. If he can continue to develop well, the Patriots would have a legitimate star on their hands.
NFL analyst Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report put together win totals for all teams across the league. For the Patriots, Davenport has New England at over 9.5 wins for the year, showing that regression could be coming.
"Still, the Patriots have an excellent young quarterback in Drake Maye. The offense got better at wide receiver with the acquisition of A.J. Brown. And while there are questions on the edge defensively, this is a unit that was eighth in the league in 2025. The Pats may well regress. But they aren't going to regress that much," Davenport wrote.
The projected record for New England came in at 11-6 for the season, which would be three games back of where they were a year ago. But considering that the Patriots have a tougher schedule, this makes sense.
New England should still be a contender in the AFC, but teams aren't going to be surprised by them this time around. Being the reigning AFC champions, the Patriots are now seen as the hunted in the conference.
But the Patriots are embracing this as they enter the season, and it could help them stay focused throughout the year. This team has a chip on its shoulder from everyone doubting them, and it could result in them winning it all if the stars come to play.
New England will start their quest to win the Super Bowl next week, with a rematch against the Seattle Seahawks.
