NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
2025 Record - 14-3-0
Head Coach - Mike Vrabel
2025 Offensive Rank - 379 YPG (3rd); Rushing - 129 YPG (6th), Passing - 250 YPG (4th) SCORING - 28.8 PPG (2nd)
2025 Defensive Rank - 295 YPG (8th); Rushing - 102 YPG (6th), Passing - 193 YPG (9th) SCORING - 18.8 PPG (4th)
Key Player Additions - Romeo Doubs (WR), Kevin Byard III (DB), Dre'Mont Jones (LB), K.J. Britt (LB), Julian Hill (TE), Kindle Vildor (DB)
Key Player Losses - Stefon Diggs (WR), Garrett Bradbury (OL), K'Lavon Chaisson (LB), Austin Hooper (TE), Jack Gibbens (LB), Jaylin Hawkins (DB), Khyris Tonga (DL), Anfernee Jennings (LB), Vederian Lowe (OL), Jahlani Tavai (LB)
OFFENSE - Quarterback Drake Maye had a huge season in his second campaign as he passed for 4,394 yards and had 31 touchdown passes along with just nine interceptions while also rushing for 450 yards (4.4 YPC) and he scored four times. Treveyon Henderson (911 rushing yards, 5.1 YPC, nine TD) and Rhamondre Stevenson (603, 4.6 YPC, seven TD) form a solid one-two punch in the backfield. The wide receivers will be led by Mack Hollins (46 receptions for 550 yards and two touchdowns), Romeo Doubs (55, 724, six TD with Green Bay) and Kayshon Boutte, who hauled in 33 receptions for 551 yards and six touchdowns. The tight end is Hunter Henry, who had 60 receptions for 768 yards and seven touchdowns last season.
DEFENSE - Up front is nose tackle Cory Durden along with Christian Barmore and end Milton Williams, providing solid run defense that finished sixth in the NFL a year ago. The linebackers are Dre'Mont Jones, who had seven combined quarterback sacks with Tennessee and Baltimore last season and also Robert Spillane (97 tackles and two interceptions), Christian Ellis (76 tackles) and Harold Landry III, who led the team with 8 1/2 sacks. K.J. Britt and rookies Gabe Jacas (Illinois) and Namdi Obiazor (TCU) will look to add depth. The secondary has safeties Craig Woodson (75 tackles) and Kevin Byard III, who made 95 tackles and had an NFL leading seven interceptions with the Chicago Bears last year. The cornerbacks are Carlton Davis III, Marcus Jones (three picks) and Christian Gonzalez. The Patriots defense had ten interceptions last year and totaled 35 sacks while allowing just under 19 points per game.
2026 SEASON OUTLOOK - The Patriots shocked the NFL last year by going to the Super Bowl after two successive 4-13 seasons prior and many said it was because of the easy schedule they played in the 2025 season and was the reason for their success. They only faced two teams that made the AFC playoffs a year ago and this time around it looks more challenging on the 17-game schedule, including the season opener in Seattle for a Super Bowl rematch with the defending champion Seahawks.
Head Coach Mike Vrabel has had a pretty tumultuous off-season personally and whether or not that is a factor in 2026 remains to be seen. As for the football, the Patriots have a solid core on both offense and defense, including third year quarterback Drake Maye, who will look to keep things going in the right direction after a tremendous run in 2025. The offense was balanced last year and finished second in the NFL in scoring and brings in Romeo Doubs at wide receiver to replace Stefon Diggs (now with Washington) in the passing attack. The pass protection for Maye will need to improve as he was sacked 48 times last year and a bunch more in the post-season.
The defense was solid and New England had a plus-3 in turnovers, though the pass rush could improve after finishing in the bottom third of the league with only 35 sacks. The red zone defense was good and when the chips were down late in games last year, the Patriots usually delivered. The Super Bowl loser hangover is always a factor, but Vrabel has the coaching experience as well as being a former player who has been there, to help this team keep their focus. The Patriots will most likely battle the Buffalo Bills for the AFC East title again and if they make the playoffs, they can go far. Only this time around, they will have the targets on their collective backs as other teams will not be taken by surprise as the season goes along.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week One - at Seattle
Week Two - vs. Pittsburgh
Week Three - at Jacksonville
Week Four - at Buffalo
Week Five - vs. Las Vegas
Week Six - vs. N.Y. Jets
Week Seven - at Chicago
Week Eight - at Miami
Week Nine - vs. Green Bay
Week Ten - vs. Detroit (Munich, Germany)
Week Eleven - BYE
Week Twelve - at L.A. Chargers
Week Thirteen - vs. Buffalo
Week Fourteen - vs. Minnesota
Week Fifteen - at Kansas City
Week Sixteen - at N.Y. Jets
Week Seventeen - vs. Denver
Week Eighteen - vs. Miami
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