Adjusted Expectations?

[reflexblue]

I had them with a record of 10-7 originally, i'm going to up it to 12-5 or even 13-4. Barring major injuries

 

[patsinthesnow]

Jets x2
Bengals
Giants
Dolphins

The pats should beat these teams unless they turn it over multiple times. These are some of the worst defenses they’ll face all year.

The pats will likely either be the 5 seed or the 1 seed depending on if they beat the Bills at home. It’s hard to set realistic expectations until then. A SB run as the 5 seed is a tough sell IMO.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

I still think the team they put around Maye is in line with expectations - probably somewhere between middle of the pack to top of the bottom third in the NFL. But Maye is playing like an ELITE QB and that changes everything. Combined with the weak schedule and the 7-2 starting point, I think anything below 13-4 or maybe 12-5 is a pretty troubling sign for them and how they're playing down the stretch.

NYJ
NYJ again
MIA
NYG
BUF
TB
CIN
BAL

Anything can happen any given week but those first 4 games should be wins and while I think any of the last 4 are games you can see them losing, those aren't exactly juggernauts either based on those teams this year so going 0-4 would be pretty bad.

 

[TheRainMaker]

ATL gave them a scare after it looked like NE was going to blow them out. Think Eagles 2015 where the Pats were up 14-0 then pouch punted right before the half for absolutely no reason where the Eagles ended up scoring. The Pats somehow lost that game.

The AFC is wide open for anyone. There isn't one team that you point to and say "that's the team". I think the Pats are going to pull off the #1 seed because of their schedule and allow the rest of the AFC take each other out giving the Pats a favorable divisional round matchup. As much as Rham has struggled, we need him back for the depth. Hopefully Boutte comes back as well.

This year looks like 1996 and 2001 all over again.

 

[Betterthanmost]

We are now playing with house money. Interestingly, I have seen enough in Maye that we can develop a contender with him. Whatever we get from this point in the season is just gravy for me. I did wanted to win the Atlanta game though.

 

[Patsfan1645]

Team is 4-0 on the road. This is who they are and what they do!!! No more losses this season. Just go ahead and hand over the Lombardi and stop wasting everyone's time. The rest of the season is just a formality.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

Expectations are, and should be dynamic.
Take Washington last year. Do you think after they exceeded expectations during the season they and their fan base were good with losing in the NFCC, hell no!

My expectations are:
As long as Drake plays the way he has, we can go far, like all the way to the last game of the postseason. Anything less will disappoint me.
I will have time to reflect in the offseason, but that’s where I’m at.
The league is so dynamic year to year. Being good or bad this year is no guarantee of the same next year. Teams change, injuries happen. This may be our best chance in the foreseeable future.
SB or bust, next year is next year.

 

[Joey007]

I do think some are getting carried away. Logic still tells me the team is a year away from actually being able to win the whole thing.

Unlike some, I always believed 11-12 wins was possible due to this schedule. I think some always assumed we’d be a 8-9 win team and are more shocked by the 7-2 start. Those same people who thought we would go 8-9 are the ones now thinking we’ll win the Super Bowl.

We shouldn’t apologize for winning, but also have to acknowledge what the schedule has been this year. I can tell there still remain flaws on this team that will likely be more apparent come playoff time. I think we’re definitely good enough to win a playoff game, just not feeling like we’ll be good enough to go the whole way.

This all being said, there is enough of a formula here where I could be wrong on that. Having a QB like Maye really opens up your ceiling.

 

[Joey007]

Expectations are, and should be dynamic.
Take Washington last year. Do you think after they exceeded expectations during the season they and their fan base were good with losing in the NFCC, hell no!

My expectations are:
As long as Drake plays the way he has, we can go far, like all the way to the last game of the postseason. Anything less will disappoint me.

I don’t hate having the mentality we can go all the way. But to call this season a failure to accomplish anything short of that: I think it’s setting your expectations too high for a letdown. I get it because of who we’ve been the last 25 years, but it’s good to have perspective.

No matter what happens, this season has been a massive step in the right direction. These seasons are rare, where we can enjoy the success without feeling the burden of expectations. Enjoy the ride!

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

I don’t hate having the mentality we can go all the way. But to call this season a failure to accomplish anything short of that: I think it’s setting your expectations too high for a letdown. I get it because of who we’ve been the last 25 years, but it’s good to have perspective.

No matter what happens, this season has been a massive step in the right direction. These seasons are rare, where we can enjoy the success without feeling the burden of expectations. Enjoy the ride!

I definitely wouldn’t call it a failure, but I will be disappointed if we don’t go far.
You just never know what can happen year to year. We are a contender this year. We should be for the next number of years, but nothing is guaranteed. So I want ride wave till the end and will be disappointed if we don’t, but again, I wouldn’t consider it a failure.

 

[maust]

This was my expectation in May:

Post in thread 'A Cautionary Note'

May 5, 2025

It's great to feel like things are finally moving forward. That said, as fans the weight of unrealistic expectations can only lead to disappointment. My expectation is the Pats will field a competitive team, one that's hopefully tough to play against that opponents won't want to see on their schedule in December. That would represent a hella improvement and put us in good position for '26

• maust

It has been met so far and hopefully will continue to be. It's great to go into a game feeling like the Pats can play with anybody and have a realistic shot at coming out with a 'W' where it all ends up remains to be seen but we know this much and so does the rest of the league...

 

[stinkypete]

My preseason expectation was 11 wins and a wild card loss.

Looking at the remaining schedule, 11 wins seems safe, 12 likely, 13 possible.

A playoff win is very much in the cards, but seeding will be key. I feel good about beating Pittsburgh, LA and JAX anywhere. I think we could beat Indy and Denver at home.

I don't think this team is ready to knock off Buffalo, KC or Baltimore in a playoff game, regardless of homefield (and I fully expect Baltimore to win that division). I am totally open to being proven wrong. If we were to knock one of these three out, I will believe that the Super Bowl is a posibility.

 

[stinkypete]

I definitely wouldn’t call it a failure, but I will be disappointed if we don’t go far.
You just never know what can happen year to year. We are a contender this year. We should be for the next number of years, but nothing is guaranteed.

This is a good point. Next year we draw the NFC north and the AFC west, Buffalo twice and a 1st or 2nd place schedule guarantees we face at least one additional playoff team. That is a gauntlet.

 

[PatsFan2]

Jets x2
Bengals
Giants
Dolphins

The pats should beat these teams unless they turn it over multiple times. These are some of the worst defenses they’ll face all year.

The pats will likely either be the 5 seed or the 1 seed depending on if they beat the Bills at home. It’s hard to set realistic expectations until then. A SB run as the 5 seed is a tough sell IMO.

It wouldn't shock me if We win out: and Ravens might not be in it in Six weeks. The Raven have a tough close out @ Steelers @ Packers those Teams should be playing down to the wire.

 

[PatsFan2]

It wouldn't be a successful season Breaker: but winning Sunday's Game would be huge. Regarding our Next Four Games 3-1 would be Good 4-0 would be Great: certainly doable.

 

[Joey007]

My preseason expectation was 11 wins and a wild card loss.

Looking at the remaining schedule, 11 wins seems safe, 12 likely, 13 possible.

A playoff win is very much in the cards, but seeding will be key. I feel good about beating Pittsburgh, LA and JAX anywhere. I think we could beat Indy and Denver at home.

I don't think this team is ready to knock off Buffalo, KC or Baltimore in a playoff game, regardless of homefield (and I fully expect Baltimore to win that division). I am totally open to being proven wrong. If we were to knock one of these three out, I will believe that the Super Bowl is a posibility.

If Buffalo wins the divison: a rematch in Pittsburgh would be very possible. I would love that opportunity.

 

[Thelonious]

I was at eight wins, which is looking a little shaky. They'll win more, which is great, because it indicates the rebuild is going better than expected, along with Drake's development. I'm not going to alter my view, though, that this is year one of a rebuild and that it really doesn't matter whether we make the playoffs or not. There is little chance will advance very far even if we do.

I think the season is going great, whatever our record might be for the remainder of the season. If we win, it'll be further evidence that the progress is real. If we lose, it'll give our draft position a little bump, and will give our excellent coaches a nice array of teaching points. Win/win.

 

[Real fan 02]

We're halfway through the year and we've already exceeded the win totals most of you predicted so it's time to adjust and set your new expectations.

What do you think?

I think we're winning the Superbowl.

@TheRainMaker

Made a great Comparison to 2001 recently.. with this year's team.. like every NFL team in the league we have our flaws.. but this team is in fact a contender, and has proven themselves to be one of the best teams in the league. A win against Tampa doesn't really do anything in my view to change this. They are an excellent road team and can hang with anyone.

 

[Zoomnbyu]

Who's more wrong that Charlie Casserly and SB1.....

Charlie Kirk making a dinner reservation after the UVU show.

 

[Brotherblues]

No need to adjust my expectations.

I find it crazy that half the board expected a losing record, and people would get beat up for even mentioning the possibility of making the playoffs.