TEAM
TALK
- Evan Lazar’s After Further Review: Did the Patriots find a run game for the playoffs, QB Drake Maye breakdown, and more from Sunday’s win over the Dolphins. /Worth the read.
- Mike Dussault reports the Patriots finalized their 2026 opponents.
- Transcript: Mike Vrabel (Plus 13 min. video)
- Press Conferences: Milton Williams and Jack Gibbens.
- WEEI Patriots Monday: Mike Vrabel and Drake Maye.
LOCAL LINKS
- Andrew Callahan’s Patriots film review: Why Sunday’s finale offered a roadmap to Super Bowl. “Create explosive runs and turnovers, easier said than done, yes. But nothing’s easy now.” /Good read.
- Jerry Thornton shares his knee-jerk reactions to Week 18: Patriots vs. Dolphins. “You could be one of those people who are dismissing an improbable, nearly impossible 14-3 season as merely the product of a weak schedule. And if that’s you, I pity you and your dull, gray, joyless existence.”
- Phil Perry looks at what we learned in Pats-Dolphins: Drake Maye makes final case for MVP; Pats embracing a physical play-style ahead of the playoffs; More.
- Justin Leger and Phil Perry update the Stock Watch: Rhamondre’s resurgence coming at perfect time.
- Nick Goss posts his Patriots-Chargers Tale of the Tape: Keys to victory, prediction and more.
- Alex Barth reports the Chargers at Patriots matchup gets primetime treatment on the playoff schedule.
- Tom E. Curran and Phil Perry weigh in on why the Chargers are the ‘best matchup’ for New England.
- Nick Goss highlights Mike Vrabel with an early scouting report on the Chargers.
- Chris Mason relays Jim Harbaugh: These Patriots play like Mike Vrabel used to play.
- Jerry Thornton looks back at the 4-13 season to appreciate how the 14-3 Patriots finished off one of the great turnaround seasons in history.
- Karen Guregian’s Tales from the Patriots locker room: How competitive is Drake Maye?
- Doug Kyed hears from Mike Vrabel with an injury update on key players ahead of the playoffs.
- Mark Daniels talks with Milton Williams and Stefon Diggs, who admit they never expected this level of success after signing with the team.
- Matt Vautour finds journeyman RB D’Ernest Johnson is embracing his small role for the chance to be part of a winner. “Whatever my role is, that’s what I’ll do.”
- Matt Vautour notes Venezuelan-born kicker Andy Borregales says Nicolás Maduro’s capture brings hope. “At the end of the day, a lot of us Venezuelans are happy,” he said quietly. “It’s been 26 years of hardship. That’s why my parents had to leave and came here. That’s really why a lot of us left…”
- Pats Procrastination podcast: Clare and Chudders discuss another win against the Fins and it’s off to the playoffs. (43 min.)
NATIONAL NEWS
- John Breech (CBS Sports) Pick Six newsletter: Four head coaches fired; Plus, 2026 playoff schedule and ranking all 14 postseason teams. Patriots 6th.
- Jeffri Chadiha (NFL.com) The First Read: Who’s most likely to win Super Bowl LX: Ranking all 14 playoff contenders. Patriots 7th. /Click for commentary.
- Zachary Pereles (CBS Sports) Ranking playoff teams: Why a No. 5 seed sits atop the field, plus Eagles are looming large. Patriots 6th. /Click for commentary.
- Tyler Sullivan (CBS Sports) Playoff narratives for each team: Patriots narrative: Will success continue vs. better competition? /Click for commentary.
- Nate Davis (USA Today) Which playoff team is biggest Super Bowl 60 threat? Ranking all 14 on title chances. Patriots 8th. /Click for commentary.
- Garrett Podell (CBS Sports) Viewer’s guide: Ranking NFL wild card matchups. No. 4 Patriots vs. Chargers.
- Jarrett Bell (USA Today) Road to Super Bowl 60 rife with pitfalls, potholes and yes, potential. 2. Does it matter that Patriots QB Drake Maye has zero playoff experience? “We’ll see… ”
- Tyler Dragon (USA Today) NFL playoff wild-card odds and expert predictions for every matchup. “..Herbert and the Chargers pull off the biggest upset of wild-card weekend.” Chargers win 23-22.
- Jay Busbee (Yahoo! Sports) Ranking the 49 possible Super Bowl matchups. 8. Patriots vs. Eagles, 4. Patriots vs. Seahawks, 1. Patriots vs. Bears.
- Conor Orr (SI) Woody Johnson should learn a lesson from Robert Kraft in his handling of Aaron Glenn. “The parallels between Kraft and Jets owner Woody Johnson—at least in this very specific case—are startling.”
