Real schedule release

[TheRainMaker]

They are gonna beat them all. To be fair Seattle is far worse than they were last season AND had the Pats offense been even average they win.

This. Seattle is the most overrated team in the last 25 years. They would've lost the #1 to SF had the 49ers been healthy.

In regards to the Pats, it would be very difficult to go 4-0 on the road that early in the season. If they do, then it will gives us a very good indication that they are in for another stellar season.

 

[ViperGTS]

This. Seattle is the most overrated team in the last 25 years. They would've lost the #1 to SF had the 49ers been healthy.

In regards to the Pats, it would be very difficult to go 4-0 on the road that early in the season. If they do, then it will gives us a very good indication that they are in for another stellar season.

See the way I see it, you have to assume nobody gets better to have a worse season than last year. Campbell, Maye, Henderson etc etc will have not gotten any better. That isn't including the fact that the o-line is very good this year.

 

[Brady85-23]

Patriots have a good chance to beat Seattle week 1. There a lot tougher. Better run game better oline. Aj brown. And I'd say a big factor is Seattle lost kubiak that's an underrated loss big time

 

[XLIX]

Seattle was better than NE last year. They were worthy champions. Having said that....

They were not an unbeatable juggernaut. They only got HFA because of the most obscure, lucky play where a guy picked up a ball in the end zone that everyone thought was an incomplete pass, and then everyone thought was a fumble which couldn't be advanced, before a 10 minute replay review/rules-discussion said the 2 point conversion was good.

They got hot at the right time, no doubt, but I think they are looking at a Super Bowl hangover this year. I just hope we aren't looking at the same.

 

[Huckleberry1]

See the way I see it, you have to assume nobody gets better to have a worse season than last year. Campbell, Maye, Henderson etc etc will have not gotten any better. That isn't including the fact that the o-line is very good this year.

I agree. This is going to be a better team than they were last year. The young guys will have a year under their belt, they have improved their areas of weakness. This will be a better blocking team, the additions at WR and TE will help significantly, and their run defense and secondary will be better. They have a couple of holes in terms of depth, but those can be addressed over the summer. Amazing job by Vrabel and Co. building this roster into a serious contender. They will win the East again this season, and they are going to be a very tough out in the playoffs.

 

[mayoclinic]

20-0, baby.

 

[mayoclinic]

From 2010 to 2020 - 11 consecutive years - the Patriots played a 1st place schedule. They won the division from 2009-2019 despite injuries, roster turnover, major roster deficiencies, and playing the strongest teams. They won 3 SBs and played in 5, and in 8 consecutive AFCCGs, even when other teams had better overall rosters (" I'm so mad, I can't stand it"), and when the NFL was doing everything it could to stack the odds against them, taking away 1st round picks in 2008 and 2016.

They did that because with a top 3 QB and a top coaching staff, you only need to field a reasonably decent team to be competitive in today's NFL, no matter what your schedule.

Welcome back.

 

[mgteich]

This. Seattle is the most overrated team in the last 25 years. They would've lost the #1 to SF had the 49ers been healthy.

In regards to the Pats, it would be very difficult to go 4-0 on the road that early in the season. If they do, then it will gives us a very good indication that they are in for another stellar season.

ROLF
Seattle is the most overrated team in 25 years because they won the SB without being the best team in their conference or even division? There have lots and lots and lots of overrated teams.

 

[Uptown]

 

[Uptown]

Realistically speaking, the floor for the Patriots is obviously 17-0. Bias aside..

 

[Uptown]

 

[jmt57]

In shocking news, the 7-9-1 Dallas Cowboys - who have not won a divisional round playoff game in the last 30 years - will be on more prime/primary games (11) than either of the super bowl contestants (8 each)

 

[XLIX]

In shocking news, the 7-9-1 Dallas Cowboys - who have not won a divisional round playoff game in the last 30 years - will be on more prime/primary games (11) than either of the super bowl contestants (8 each)

They’re the top draw in the NFL, even when they suck.

Why are you complaining? Having so many prime time games sucks. I wish there was a way we could play every single one of our games on Sunday at 1:00 without being a team that sucks so bad that they play every single game on Sunday at 1:00.

 

[jmt57]

They’re the top draw in the NFL, even when they suck.

True, but that is due to circular logic.
They're the top draw because fans are so familiar with them, and so heavily marketed & advertised.
Fans are familiar with them because they are on so often.
Rinse, lather repeat.
It's similar to when a mediocre-at-best song gets played over and over again, then people become familiar with it, so it becomes 'popular' and best-selling, and then back to step one, being played over and over again.

Why are you complaining? Having so many prime time games sucks. I wish there was a way we could play every single one of our games on Sunday at 1:00 without being a team that sucks so bad that they play every single game on Sunday at 1:00.

I'm not complaining about lack of prime time games for the Patriots; I much prefer an afternoon game.

Besides being a Pats fan, I am also an NFL fan.
Because I am an NFL fan, I want to see the best football games each and every week.
That means zero Cowboys-Giants games, or some similar slop - especially when it is the one and only game available in that time slot.
7-9-1 teams that haven't done squat in 30 years deserve to be on as seldom as possible.

Rehashing a worn out inferior product works when masked by other forces (the NFL's overall popularity), but providing a superior quality product (best possible games) is a better long term strategy.

Fans/consumers will adapt, as they do with any other product. Think back to the early post-merger Steelers; previously nearly 40 years with only one playoff appearance (a shutout loss), then immense nationwide popularity - because they were winning, and had great teams.

At one time New England football fans were force fed an inferior product (the New York Giants) on television. People watched - because for the most part it was the Giants or no NFL at all, and again, familiarity. The ratings were good due to a near-monopoly on the airwaves, not the quality of the play.

When the Patriots are not on, I want good matchups, with good teams. If the NFL and networks invest a bit by showcasing these other, better teams, it will pay off in the long run, in their never-ending quest for increased revenue.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I love the tough schedule. Facing the best competition is how you find out where you are at as a team, who can handle playing the top competition, and ultimately toughens the team up and makes them better. They wouldn't have been ready for this schedule last season, but they have the team to compete every week, and if they play good football will make the playoffs and be a very tough out.

 

[UrbanCowboy]

I love the tough schedule. Facing the best competition is how you find out where you are at as a team, who can handle playing the top competition, and ultimately toughens the team up and makes them better. They wouldn't have been ready for this schedule last season, but they have the team to compete every week, and if they play good football will make the playoffs and be a very tough out.

Ditto! Love it. We'll probably lose a few more games, but so what ... we'll be more ready for the playoffs (although getting to the super bowl is kinda ready, ha). And we'll see some great games. Can't wait to see what we do against the water pigeons ... and I won't freak out if we lose.

 

[mayoclinic]

More disrespect:

www.nfl.com/news/which-nfl-teams-could-dethrone-super-bowl-champion-seahawks-ranking-top-8-candidates

 

[TheRainMaker]

More disrespect:

www.nfl.com/news/which-nfl-teams-could-dethrone-super-bowl-champion-seahawks-ranking-top-8-candidates

Two major "if's", but if the Pats O-line holds up and McDaniels runs an actual offense, it will not shock me if the Pats beat them opening night. They lost to a mediocre led 49ers team opening day in 2025. McDaniels has developed a bad habit turtling when an injury or two occurs by running an overly conservative offense.

 

[mayoclinic]

Pats play the NFC North this year. Some of the guys we'll be facing:

2026 NFC North top 50 players: No. 1-10

The WCG crew make their picks for the Top 50 players in the NFC North, this time ranking players No. 1-10.

sports.yahoo.com

 

[sb1]

More disrespect:

www.nfl.com/news/which-nfl-teams-could-dethrone-super-bowl-champion-seahawks-ranking-top-8-candidates

"It could even be the defending AFC champion Patriots, although their chances of winning it all seem lower than Seattle's chances of going back-to-back considering the Super Bowl loser has made it back to the game the next season only once in the last 32 years."

Because past seasons involving other teams have everything to do with this year and the Patriots, everyone knows this...