2026 Patriots Season Predictions

[Nikolai]

It's that time of the year again ladies and gentlemen.

Has Drake found his Moss?
Will the OL actually improve?
Can we stay healthy?
Is the "oh so tough" schedule just noise?
You get to lay it all out, right here, right now.

Last year, only @Brotherblues had the right poll vote as the 2025 Pats surprised everyone behind an MVP-caliber campaign from Drake Maye and a defense that lived up to and surpassed its potential. Do we know this team better now?

Make your call and let's see where the chips fall.

Poll is up until September 8.

@ SEA
PIT
@ JAX
@ BUF
LV
NYJ
@ CHI
@ MIA
GB
DET
@ LAC
BUF
MIN
@ KC
@ NYJ
DEN
MIA

 

[Nikolai]

@ SEA - L
PIT - W
@ JAX - W
@ BUF - W
LV - W
NYJ - W
@ CHI - W
@ MIA - W
GB - W
DET - W
@ LAC - W
BUF - L
MIN - W
@ KC - L
@ NYJ - W
DEN - L
MIA - W

13-4...second seed again. For all the pearl-clutching by the media, this schedule isn't quite the monster folks make it out to be. I see us winning the AFC East again but splitting with Buffalo because it's a division game and Josh Allen is still really, really good.

AFC Wilcard Round
HOU @ NE - NE
KC @ BAL - KC
BUF @ JAX - JAX

AFC Divisional Round
JAX @ DEN - DEN
KC @ NE - NE

AFCCG
NE @ DEN (rematch!) - DEN (whomp whomp)

Super Bowl
LAR vs DEN - LAR wins...yawn

 

[Gumby]

I’m figuring 12-5. 4 losses and two 50-50 tossups below.

• W: Week 1: at Seattle Seahawks
• W: Week 2: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
• W: Week 3: at Jacksonville Jaguars
• L: Week 4: at Buffalo Bills
• W: Week 5: vs. Las Vegas Raiders
• W: Week 6: vs. New York Jets
• L: Week 7: at Chicago Bears
• W: Week 8: at Miami Dolphins
• ?: Week 9: vs. Green Bay Packers

• L: Week 10: vs. Detroit Lions (Munich, Germany)
• Week 11: Bye Week
• W: Week 12: at Los Angeles Chargers
• W: Week 13: vs. Buffalo Bills
• W: Week 14: vs. Minnesota Vikings
• ?: Week 15: at Kansas City Chiefs
• W: Week 16: at New York Jets
• L: Week 17: vs. Denver Broncos
• W: Week 18: vs. Miami Dolphins

 

[PatsFanInVa]

I dropped my number all the way down to 11, but I'm going to bring it back up to 12-13 after writing this.

I'm not doing "we'll win this one, we'll lose that one."

I look at what we had last year, and I do think we improved substantially, especially at receiver. On the other hand, we had only a few injuries during the year.... one was Campbell, of course, but we had a generally light impact from injuries. So that sort of explains me taking them down from the total of 14.

A few random observations -

A huge part of the passing game is down to the performance of the O-line. Is it shored up? Yes. Does it survive a tough year in terms of injuries? I'm nervous.

One of our upgrades along the O-line was AVT, who is a season-ending injury magnet. He had a permanent reserved parking space at the Jets' rehab facility. I kid. I think.

Now, he might have had "injuries" rather than injuries, knowing full well he was on the JETE, but I don't think you fake 3 seasons of IR. So let's all be ready for AVT going down early in the season, for the duration. I'm crushed in advance, but that's what he does. Cross your fingers of course... but that's what he does.

We've plugged in some other vets at the buzzer, and that makes me feel better. And of course, unproven does not mean proven to suck... I'm just saying we can way too easily be in "unimproved" territory. (But that is true of all teams, after all.)

Okay too much on O-line.

I'm hoping Drake is the monster I think he is, and that there won't be a drop off from his insane completion percentage etc.

He does have new weapons. Can he speed up his release? Unknown. Stop patting the ball, and he might be sniffing 50 TDs. And by the way, I am glad for both the depth and the upside in the WR room.

We might just need that high upside for Drake Maye, given the middling at best LB and defensive line -- somebody please make me feel better about this. We won't get beat in the secondary, but it looks like we're headed for a year of big nickel., which likely leaves us somewhat shy of the 85 Bears. I've over-written already. so I'll let others expand on that side of the ball.

It'll be fun to see a true FB, and Stephenson/Henderson is a proven combo. Overall, no issues w the run game.

But the general tougher schedule, and the likelihood of a tougher injury impact, makes me stay in the12-13 win category.

 

[manxman2601]

Those first four games will make all the difference. Come out of them 3-1 and we're on our way. 1-3 means the margins narrow very quickly.

 

[Nikolai]

Those first four games will make all the difference. Come out of them 3-1 and we're on our way. 1-3 means the margins narrow very quickly.

It's a pretty savage start to the season. There's a world where they go 2-2 and people are losing their minds. If it's 1-3, pure pandemonium around here.

After that, there's a nice "get right" part of the schedule coming up, so that's nice

 

[PatsFanSince74]

I've been posting here since 2005.

I've never thought I was smart enough to predict game-by-game before opening night. Too much randomness: injuries, bounces, deflections, gusts of wind during a pass or kick and bad calls by the refs along with dumb mistakes or brilliant plays by either team.

This year, I'll spot them 4 of 6 in the Division. Bills will be tough and Josh will be salty. Fins can get lucky, especially at home. If they lose to the Jetes, it's back to the old drawing board.

That leaves 11 more games. My gut says they're better than around 50--50 (6 wins) in those games but not likely to go 8--3. So, I'll guess 7--4.

Bottom line (likely not worth the space it's typed in): 11--6. Good enough to get them a WC or maybe the Division if the Bills stumble.

 

[n1997y]

I was confused when I saw 120.8% of the votes tabulated. Thought I was looking at the midterm results reported by the GOP. Before anybody complains about that being political consider that the GOP is the predominate source of voter fraud claims and also the predominate source of voter fraud case defendants. Thats not political; its factual.

Anyway, I don’t think multiple votes should be allowed here any more than in real elections. Make a choice and stand with it. Have the courage of your convictions.

I think this team is good enough to win 12 this year, but I’m casting my one vote for RLKAG.

No multiple votes allowed. Country over party!

Okay, that last was political. If you don’t like it eat a ****.

 

[sb1]

10 wins and playoffs. Feels like there's still a bunch of question marks on defense so I'm being cautious with this one and they need to stay healthy. But the Pats have an easier schedule on paper than Buffalo does so maybe 10 will be enough for the division.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Those first four games will make all the difference. Come out of them 3-1 and we're on our way. 1-3 means the margins narrow very quickly.

Nah - they won't be close to playing up to speed for the first 4 games. 1-3 if they beat Buffalo doesn't eliminate them from the playoffs. Losing to Buffalo would hurt though - they need to split their series with the Bills and sweep the Jets and Fins during the season. That's 5 wins there and 6 more agasint the non-division teams likely has them in the playoffs.

I'm fully prepared for September to be messy football, especially with the number of new guys they brought in.

 

[PatsFan2]

• 
  @ SEA -
  PIT -
  @ JAX -
  @ BUF -
  LV -
  NYJ -
  @ CHI -
  @ MIA -
  GB -
  DET -
  @ LAC -
  BUF -
  MIN -
  @ KC -
  @ NYJ -
  DEN -
  MIA -
• 
  
• Other than the Jets and Dolphins.

 

[Triumph]

 

[TheRainMaker]

I have serious concerns about the OL even more so than last year. I wasn’t worried about a possible drop off on defense, but I am now. The edge situation is a mess and the defense will take a further hit if Gonzalez decides to sit.

I’m going with 12-5.

 

[condon84]

13 wins.

We'll have a top 3 offense.

Defense will be top 10.

Key factor are injuries as we lack depth. But if we stay relatively healthy, we are a much better team than last year.

 

[TommyD4207]

I have serious concerns about the OL even more so than last year. I wasn’t worried about a possible drop off on defense, but I am now. The edge situation is a mess and the defense will take a further hit if Gonzalez decides to sit.

I’m going with 12-5.

How?

 

[Hammer of Thor]

Does the win total in the poll include postseason?

I went with 11. I think we’re likely a stronger team than last year, but we also caught a lot of good bounces too and yes, we did have an easy schedule until the playoffs (and even then, they faced 2 teams with bad quarterbacks). So from 13 wins to 11 is a downgrade, but I still think we have as good of a chance as anyone to come out of the AFC to be in the Super Bowl again.

 

[Zuma]

I have real depth concerns on defense. We were lucky last season with injuries. 10 wins.

 

[Guts]

@ Seahags L

Squealers- W
 
Jags - W

@ Billdos L

Raiduuuuuurs W

Jete W

@ Cubbies W

@ LOLfins W

Cheeseheads L

Kitty Lions L

@ Same ol Chargers W

Billdos W

Viqueens W

@ Queefs W

@ Jete W

Donkeys L

LOLfins W

 

[reflexblue]

12 wins. thats my story and I'm sticking to it

 

[TheRainMaker]

How?

Campbell still scares the crap out of me. Some in the media have said he's looked "stronger" in camp, while others have mentioned he still gets pushed back by mediocre players.

AVT is a ticking timebomb. If he stays healthy, it will greatly benefit both Campbell and Wilson.

Wilson played like Billy Bob in "Varsity Blues" at G throughout the 2025 season. That was a mistake by Vrabel. It's no guarantee his Madden rating sky rockets because he goes back to his natural position. I need to see it.

As much as I don't care for Owenu, he's the most stable player along the line.

Moses' play, specifically in the playoffs, was overlooked by Campbell. He was also awful. He's now a year older.

Media hasn't said anything really positive about Lomu and expects him to pretty much sit his rookie year.