Everything seemingly went right for the New England Patriots in 2025.
In Mike Vrabel’s first season as head coach, Drake Maye emerged as an MVP candidate with a significant Year 2 leap, while nearly every major offseason addition, such as Milton Williams and Stefon Diggs, played a key role in the Patriots’ run to Super Bowl LX.
This season, however, has been a different story.
With plenty of new faces on both sides of the ball and a league-high number of injuries, the 2026 Patriots season has felt more
like a grind. The season has been defined by plenty of ups and downs, from Maye’s slow start highlighted by a blowout loss in Jacksonville to an upset win in Buffalo that kickstarted a winning streak.
That win streak was followed by the Patriots dropping two games against NFC North opponents, including a troubling 45-27 loss at home to the Green Bay Packers.
Those peaks and valleys have been reflected in Patriots fans’ confidence in the team, which nearly hit a season low this week following the loss to Green Bay, which marked the worst defeat of the Vrabel era.
Despite fan confidence taking a major dip this past week, the 5-4 Patriots still find themselves in the AFC playoff picture and as contenders.
“We’re 5-4. I think there’s going to be a lot of contending teams that are 5-4. I think that’s the nature of the National Football League,” Vrabel said. “We’ve got to draw a line here. We’ve got to think that we’re 0-0, and we’ve got to start putting ourselves in position to play meaningful games in January or in the middle of January.”
According to Patriots fans, the team’s ceiling is viewed best just as a playoff contender. In the latest SB Nation Reacts survey, 54% of participants said that is how they see the team compared to just 3% who still view them as Super Bowl contenders. The remaining 43% of voters don’t view New England as a contender at all.
Much of the comment section sees it similarly:
MaineMan
After getting blown out by the 5-3 Packers, if they lose to DET on Sunday, probably not. That will drop them to 5-5 and needing to win five, perhaps even six of their last seven games. Facing BUF (7-1), MIN (6-2), KCY (6-2) & DEN (7-2) in four of those games, even a 5-2 stretch run seems very unlikely.
sanfranpatsfan
so much negativity around here with 43% voting that we are not even playoff contenders despite stilling holding the 7 seed currently and no one below us looking good. one run to the SB and half the fan base is re-spoiled
jeer9
They have 8 wins if they beat the 3 stinkers left on their schedule. That means they need to go 2 out of 5 against Detroit, Minnesota, KC, Buffalo, and Denver to make the playoffs – which is doable. Anything can happen once you’re in; though based on their erratic effort, I don’t see them making it very far.
PatsHowYouDoIt
I have full faith they will remain competitive and make it to the playoffs.
luckyfukikentucky
I think they sneak into the playoffs. Then it depends on how healthy and cohesive we are as a team. It’s a knockout competition from that point if you get hot you can go all the way.
fdcpuffy6
This team feels like it might, might, sneak into the playoffs but be one and done. They can change the narrative by playing better football the rest of the season and beating the quality teams left on the schedule.
All in all, this week’s survey results look as follows:
While fans are down on the Patriots making a run back to the Super Bowl, the team currently holds the 13th best odds of hosting the Lombardi Trophy this season on FanDuel Sportsbook. That is sixth best in the AFC trailing just the Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals and Denver Broncos.
