Analyst predicts Patriots horror 2026 scenario
This would be a worst-case scenario
Analyst predicts Patriots horror 2026 scenario originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The New England Patriots surprised everyone last season, going from a four-win team in 2024 to winning 14 games and making it to the Super Bowl in 2025.
But much was made of the Patriots' soft schedule, which was one of the easiest in recent memory. Well, the NFL fixed that, giving New England a brutal schedule in 2026. We know that winning 14 games back-to-back is tough, and the Patriots will likely take a step back, but how big a step back?
Well, NFL. com's analysts Ali Bhanpuri and Tom Blair, they see a huge drop-off from Mike Vrabel's team, as both have New England going 8-9 and missing the playoffs. Brutal.
MORE: Analyst has ideal Bills prediction for Joe Brady Patriots' prediction can't come true To go from a Super Bowl appearance and 14 wins to eight wins and missing the playoffs is nightmare fuel for the Patriots. For me, making it back to the postseason and winning a playoff game is an acceptable year after making the Super Bowl, but missing out altogether can't happen. The Patriots can't afford to regress that much.