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SANTA CLARA, Calif. — All year long, of us appeared on the New England Patriots slightly sideways. Regardless of going 14-3 over the common season and profitable the AFC East, it was arduous to take that file at face worth and think about New England a brand new powerhouse firmly arriving on the NFL block.
These Patriots had the simplest power of schedule for the reason that 1999 St. Louis Rams — that is throughout the NFL, not solely Tremendous Bowl-bound groups — as New England’s opponents posted a win proportion of .391. Then, the seas parted for them within the playoffs, dealing with flawed groups riddled by damage. So, as we arrived at Tremendous Bowl LX, it wasn’t shocking to see the overwhelming consensus on the facet of the Seattle Seahawks, a extra confirmed staff that had gone by means of the gauntlet of the NFC West.
And the analysts had been proper.
Seattle bulldozed to a 29-13 championship win at Levi’s Stadium. That last rating does not even really mirror how one-sided this title bout was, because the Seahawks shut out New England for the primary three quarters, forcing three turnovers and sacking Drake Maye six instances. Significantly when it got here to Seattle’s protection going up in opposition to the Patriots offense, it felt just like the varsity squad beating up on JV.
“That is the most effective staff we have confronted, clearly, this yr,” dejected Patriots coach Mike Vrabel stated postgame. “It is solely worthwhile if we perceive what it takes and what we’re going to must do to enhance. If we do not try this, then it would not have been very worthwhile. We had a extremely, actually good yr and one which I’m happy with, and this sport just isn’t a mirrored image of our yr. We misplaced, and we had been beat, outcoached and outplayed. And provides them credit score.”
Whereas the Seahawks are a worthy champion and convincingly snatched the Lombardi Trophy, it is arduous to not assume that the Patriots let a golden alternative — of the likes they will by no means see once more — slip by means of their fingers.
That remarkably straightforward schedule might be a distant reminiscence briefly order as New England will now play a first-place schedule in 2026 versus the last-place schedule they loved this yr.
So, on high of the NFC North and AFC West divisions that they’re scheduled to play subsequent season, the Patriots can even draw fellow first-place groups from 2025 within the Jaguars, Steelers, and Seahawks. New England’s 2026 opponents have a mixed win proportion of .531, making it the sixth most troublesome schedule subsequent season.
Now, let’s speak about that playoff path. From a sheer quarterback standpoint, going from Justin Herbert to C.J. Stroud to Jarrett Stidham to Sam Darnold within the Tremendous Bowl is about as advantageous a path in direction of a championship as a staff may hope for, and the Patriots could not take benefit.
Subsequent yr, some mixture (or all) of Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, and Lamar Jackson ought to be again within the fold after being on the skin wanting on this yr. Add Josh Allen — who the Patriots didn’t face within the playoffs — into that, and also you’re speaking about a way more aggressive highway for New England to get again to taking part in for a championship.
In fact, simply because the highway is not going to be tougher does not essentially imply that the Patriots cannot/will not get again to the Tremendous Bowl. Maye is an ascending quarterback, and Vrabel is likely one of the higher coaches within the league, which is a deadly duo as they proceed to construct. Nevertheless, they will quickly notice that alternatives just like the one which was simply put in entrance of them do not come round fairly often, and a visit again to the Tremendous Bowl is way from assured.
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