The playoffs are finally here, and with them: hope and expectation. For the New England Patriots, who went 4-13 in back-to-back seasons before 2025, those expectations have already been met, and then some.
And yet, neither they nor their fans are content with just getting to the postseason.
In fact, a majority of fans expects them to keep going. As a look at the latest SB Nation Reacts results shows, 95% of Patriots fans and 81% of national fans believe that the team of head coach Mike Vrabel will beat the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday night to advance to the divisional round. And they might not be done either, with 71% of participants seeing them take at least one more step — an optimism reflected in the comment section as well.
luckyfukikentucky
Depending on how things break I could see us getting to the SB. For starters I think the game against the Chargers is a win.Dan Lattrell
They could go…all…the…way! If the Pats get healthy they can go toe to toe with anyone. They have scored the second most points of any team in the NFL and they have allowed the 4th fewest points. They have the biggest point differential in the AFC and the third biggest in the NFL. They have a great young quarterback and are as well coached as any team in the NFL. That sounds like a very dangerous team to me.ShaynaandDanny
I think it depends on Maye’s play, if he is lights out like he has been most of the year, we could end up in the super bowl as no one is scary in the AFC, Thinking who ever is the AFC rep, is going to get buzz sawed by any team from the NFC West. Regardless, this team has gone far beyond anything I had imagined at the beginning of the year i had figured an 9-8 team or an 11-6 with the right bounces.. never in my wildest did i think 14-3. GO PATS.7i165
We can go to superbowl for sure especially because I am not sure Broncos will make it to AFC final so maybe we could play three straight games in foxborough.
Depends of ball security, not playing bad football with special teams, maintain recent trend on running game, restore or season beginning ground defense with Williams and others back, and Maye on fire, no more injuries …. Well maybe I am asking too muchTDDsDad
Right Direction (really, we’re in the playoffs for the first time since 2021 and one of the top two seeds for the first time since 2018. How can we not be going in the right direction?)
I said AFC Championship because a lot of things are way too fluid to make any kind of predictions at the beginning of the tournament. How far the Pats go will be dependent on a lot of factors – i.e. who Denver plays next week, even though I’d like our chances since Denver doesn’t really scare me. I say we make it at least to the divisional.
I think we beat the Chargers but I think it’ll be a close game. Less than a touchdown.The Hydrogel Cowboy
Until this team is mathematically out of it, until the fat lady has sung her last song, until the lights have gone out and the heart monitor shows a flatline and the plug has been pulled for so long that the body is ice cold and rigor mortis is taking hold, these guys are my pick to win it all.
All in all, this week’s survey results look as follows:
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Given the other results of this week’s survey, it also is no surprise that the Patriots’ fan confidence is high. In fact, at 99% it is tied with the Seattle Seahawks for the highest in the league entering the playoffs. For comparison, 81% of Chargers fans answered the confidence question with a “yes,” the 10th best mark in the league.
The Patriots are entering Sunday as 3.5-point favorites, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
