Fox Sports analysts decided this week on if the Patriots will look just as good next season as they did in 2025.
Despite cap casualties, free agency moves, and a lot of other "what ifs" going into 2026, one of the big questions remains: Can the New England Patriots be as good, if not better, than they were this past season?
Or was that 2025 regular-season schedule being so easy a solid argument against the team?
FS1 morning show, First Things First, dove into the probability of the Patriots being a good team in 2026. Keep in mind, this is before they have their roster for next season set.
Outside of the six divisional games against the Bills, Dolphins, and Jets (all of which played twice), the Patriots have to play the Broncos, Raiders, Packers, Vikings, and Steelers at home. Then go on the road and take on the Chiefs, Bears, Lions, Chargers, Seahawks, and Jaguars.
Seven of those teams mentioned above were in the playoffs, and one of them beat them in the Super Bowl.
The Patriots' win total is currently set at 10.5 wins for the 2026 season, according to FS1. Check out how analysts Nick Wright, Chris Broussard, and Kevin Wildes analyzed the over/under on the Patriots' regular-season record next year.
The debate concluded when Wright picked the under, and Broussard picked the over, based on his belief that the Patriots have a ton of room to develop and will under Mike Vrabel's culture shift in New England.
Kevin Wildes walked the fine line that eventually led him to say the under, but not by much.
"We are a thin team," Wildes said on the air. "We are a thin roster because we are depleted by (Bill) Belichick's bad drafts."
Wildes noted that the Patriots had a good run defense until Milton Williams was hurt and that Drake Maye could throw the ball deep until Kayshon Boutte was injured. Wildes thinks they're a 10-7 team in 2026.
If the Patriots are 10-7, the argument will still be there that they had the easiest schedule this century from anyone who could not stand to see them back in the Super Bowl. However, 10-7, although not the most enticing postseason record, could still get them back to the Super Bowl depending on how things play out.
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