Anyone else tired of all the talk about how easy the Patriots schedule was last year and this year is brutal?

[Rob0729]

I don't think how people feel about the Pats is all that different to how people feel about Denver. They had a great season last year, but it looks a little fluky. And I expect that Mahomes and Reid could get back on track the way many expect the Bills to be good again.

IDK, most talking heads and influencers takes I see still have the Broncos winning their division and either getting the bye or are the #2 team in the AFC going into the playoffs. I don't see much talk about them being fluky or even the fact that they won eight games by one score or less and the NFL trend is for a team like that to take a step back the following year.

In fact, even though they really do much to improve other than adding Waddle, I see more people saying they will be a better team this year than I see that of the Patriots.

I see a decent amount of predictions where the Pats don't make the playoffs and even don't get double digit wins. I see far less for the Broncos.

But that is my biggest beef with the narrative about the Patriots and their schedule. You could use the same narrative for the Broncos, Bills, and Jags but few are saying it.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

The first and most important aim for 26/27 is win the AFCE. Is that harder than last year?

The Dolphins are tanking, the Jets are the Jets. If you think the Pats schedule is hard, the Bills is not easier. The AFCE play the AFCW and the NFCN, with the 17th game against the NFCW. So the Bills play the Rams instead of the Hawks in the 17th game. Then 2nd place games for the Bills is the Ravens instead of Steelers, and Texans instead the Jags. I don't see Texans, Ravens and Rams being any easier.

Denver and the AFCW have also got a tough schedule, playing each other, the NFCW, and the Pats/Bills in the AFCE. The Texans, Jags, Colts schedule is supposed to be slightly easier with the NFCE and AFCN. The Texans and Colts in particular have theoretically easier schedules.

Yes, arguably the Bills have a tougher schedule than we do this year. They have to play the Rams, Texans & Ravens while we play the Seahawks, Jaguars, and Steelers.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

IDK, most talking heads and influencers takes I see still have the Broncos winning their division and either getting the bye or are the #2 team in the AFC going into the playoffs. I don't see much talk about them being fluky or even the fact that they one eight games by one score or less and the NFL trend is for a team like that to take a step back the following year.

In fact, even though they really do much to improve other than adding Waddle, I see more people saying they will be a better team this year than I see that of the Patriots.

I see a decent amount of predictions where the Pats don't make the playoffs and even don't get double digit wins. I see far less for the Broncos.

But that is my biggest beef with the narrative about the Patriots and their schedule. You could use the same narrative for the Broncos, Bills, and Jags but few are saying it.

Absolutely right. How many national pundits are saying not to sleep on the Pats, the Pats will return to the SB, etc.? None. Lucky to make their top-10 list.

 

[n1997y]

The first and most important aim for 26/27 is win the AFCE. Is that harder than last year?

First, yes.

Most important, no.

Most important is winning three games after a wild card round bye. Four games if they don’t get the bye.

 

[n1997y]

I get a kick out of all the experts claiming that NE plays a 1st place schedule this year.

Only 3 games (17.67%) are affected by the previous seasons final record. The other 14 games (82.33%) were already predetermined years in advance. 6 games inter division and 8 games so that every NFL team plays each other home and away.

No, the 6 games inter-division are not “predetermined years in advance”. Which division will play is determined years in advance, but which specific teams depends on the order of finish last season.

So this year the Pats play the first place finishers from last year, the Bills play the second place finishers, etc.

And I agree that it’s not that big a difference.

Arguing that strength of schedule is a big factor is arguing that NFL parity is non-existent. Has the league given up on parity?

 

[XLIX]

Their path through the playoffs was littered with teams in injury crisis at key positions.

********.

The Chargers were going to whoop the Patriots since that was the first "real team" the Patriots faced all year.

Then the Texans were nothing short of the '85 Bears in the week leading up to the playoff game.

The only injury that truly helped NE was Denver losing their starting QB, but he isn't exactly the most intimidating guy to face.

 

[Triumph]

No, the 6 games inter-division are not “predetermined years in advance”.

Yes they are.

They were determined when the NFL reformatted to 4 AFC divisions.

Which division will play is determined years in advance, but which specific teams depends on the order of finish last season.

Huh??

The divisions slated for each season are the 8 teams

So this year the Pats play the first place finishers from last year, the Bills play the second place finishers, etc.

3 teams that is it.

And I agree that it’s not that big a difference.

Arguing that strength of schedule is a big factor is arguing that NFL parity is non-existent. Has the league given up on parity?

Every season has surprise teams that suddenly are tough to beat and every season teams that were supposed to be contenders flame out and play poor.