The New England Patriots have a heap of expectations for the 2026 NFL season after losing to the Seattle Seahawks in last season’s Super Bowl.
The Patriots have four new veteran stars — Romeo Doubs, Dre’Mont Jones, Kevin Byard and Alijah-Vera Tucker — as well as several talented incoming rookies including Caleb Lomu and Gabe Jacas, that New England expects to help them get back to the Super Bowl next season, and win.
Shortly following the release of the Patriots’ schedule for the 2026 season, many questions exist as to how the Patriots will fare on the year from a variety of angles. Here are five bold predictions for the Patriots next season.
Romeo Doubs notches first 1,000-yard season without A.J. Brown in town
Romeo Doubs is in line to assume the role that Stefon Diggs had with the Patriots in 2025 as the team’s No. 1 receiver. Patriots coach Mike Vrabel intends to increase DeMario Douglas’ role in the offense, and Kayshon Boutte will demand more targets next season after the year that he had in 2025, in the event that he stays in New England.
Nevertheless, Doubs, who has consistently converted at least 60 percent of his targets into receptions across his four seasons in the league, has the talent to go for 1,000 yards next season with over 100 passes thrown his way.
Patriots go 3-2 in primetime games next season
The Patriots will play five primetime games next season. They will play their season opener on the road against the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle’s sweltering defense will prove to be too much for New England to begin the year, handing the Patriots their first loss in 2026.
New England has the defense to pull off wins against the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Chargers in primetime. Pressuring Bears quarterback Caleb Williams will give the Patriots the edge in Week 7, and more relentless play against the Chargers and their questionable offensive line will do the trick in Week 12.
The Patriots have more weapons than the Minnesota, making that a favorable matchup for New England that results in a win, but the Chiefs’ offense figures to overwhelm the Patriots in a win for Kansas City. New England projects to finish the season with a 3-2 record in primetime games.
Patriots finish with No. 1 defense against the run in 2026
The Patriots ranked No. 6 in the NFL in rushing yards allowed (1,729) and No. 4 in rushing touchdowns allowed (11) last season. New England’s defensive tackles, Milton Williams and Christian Barmore, are in the early parts of their primes and are due to take the next step next season.
Harold Landry will be healthy next season, and Dre’Mont Jones gives the Patriots a second imposing edge rusher that primes the team to be even better against the run in 2026. How much better? The Patriots finish with the No. 1 run defense in the league next season.
Packers hand Patriots big loss that impacts AFC East title race
The Patriots will play the Green Bay Packers in Week 9. Green Bay’s passing attack, even without Doubs, has the firepower to get the better of Maye in an uptempo affair against New England.
New England has seven matchups that put them against the strongest Super Bowl contenders in the league next season, but the Packers are a team that the Patriots ought to be favored against. Nevertheless, Green Bay will do enough to contain New England’s rushing attack and pull off a major win that disadvantages the Patriots in a close battle with the Bills for the AFC East crown.
Patriots fail to represent the AFC in Super Bowl LXI
The Patriots came out on top in the AFC last season, but a new story will be told in 2026. The Buffalo Bills are the strongest team in the conference and have the framework to unseat the Patriots as AFC champs.
Meanwhile, all it will take is Patrick Mahomes returning to form next season, even with the receiving corps that he has to work with, for the Kansas City Chiefs to impede the Patriots’ path to the Super Bowl. That doesn’t even take into account Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III being in Kansas City’s backfield now.
The Ravens are the third formidable foe that the Patriots will need to be weary of in 2026. Strikingly, Baltimore did not make the playoffs last season but is due for a bounce-back year with its marquee acquisition of defensive end Trey Hendrickson being a difference-maker for them.
A playoff game on the road in Baltimore spells bad news for New England, but one at home has the potential to go either way. In the event that the Patriots encounter any of those three teams in the playoffs, their postseason will come to a close.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: 5 bold predictions for Patriots in 2026 season