The New England Patriots went 14-3 last season and made the Super Bowl for the first time since 2019. They'll probably technically have a worse record next season (harder schedule, teams will be zeroing in on them even more now, the dreaded "Super Bowl hangover"), but by all means, they're going to be better on paper.
And they're going to prove that not only was last season's success not a fluke, but it was the start of something special brewing in New England.
The Patriots' offense finally looks legit
Most Patriots fans had high hopes for the team after they hired Mike Vrabel as the head coach before last season, and he's delivered in a big way since. The team has an identity on both sides of the ball now, and their focus on physicality, resilience, and just making smart decisions, they're well-equipped to succeed in the short- and long-term.
But none of that matters if the team isn't built to win, and right now, it is.
Drake Maye had a stellar sophomore season last year, finishing second in MVP voting and taking the league by storm. He has established himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the league, and at just 23 years old, he's only getting started.
Additionally, New England has done a great job of building a good supporting cast around him. They brought in Stefon Diggs, who was instrumental to their success on and off the field, for a season last year, and they followed that up by trading for A.J. Brown in June.
The Patriots also have a legitimately good receiving corps (led by Brown, Romeo Doubs, and Kayshon Boutte) for the first time in a long time, their offensive line looks solid, their backfield is intriguing, and Maye still has his top security blanket in Hunter Henry.
And New England's defense is nothing to scoff at either
The Patriots' defense also looks very promising. Their 295.2 yards allowed per game last season ranked eighth-best across the entire league, and their 18.8 points allowed per game ranked fourth-best.
They have an elite secondary, led by Christian Gonzalez (who is one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL and needs to sign an extension...like...yesterday), and their front seven looks more than solid, too.
A lot of teams are going to circle their game against New England on the calendar, and all eyes are going to be on them next season as the reigning AFC Champions. But whether they want to admit it or not, the Patriots are back. And they're going to try to finish what they started last season.
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