The 2025 NFL schedule released Wednesday, and Patriots fans should be ecstatic.
New England opens the season against the Las Vegas Raiders at Gilette Stadium and has the third-easiest schedule. Those factors, combined with the new energy Mike Vrabel brought to One Patriot Place, can lead to wild speculation over how this season will fare for the Patriots.
Let’s indulge in those fantasies with four overreactions following the NFL making a big deal out of something very mundane.
Patriots will go 12-5This is the season New England reasserts its dominance in the NFL. Don’t think so? Let’s predict each game and give one- to three-word reasons.
Week 1: vs. Raiders, W — trashWeek 2: at Miami Dolphins, W — no crazy humidityWeek 3: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, W — Aaron who?Week 4: vs. Carolina Panthers, W — Drake Maye gameWeek 5: at Buffalo Bills, L — Josh AllenWeek 6: at New Orleans Saints, W — lolWeek 7: at Tennessee Titans, W — Mike Vrabel revengeWeek 8 vs. Cleveland Browns, W — tanking seasonWeek 9 vs. Atlanta Falcons, W — 28-3Week 10: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, L — actual good teamWeek 11: vs. New York Jets, W — never everWeek 12: at Cincinnati Bengals, L — Joe BurrowWeek 13: vs. New York Giants, W — why primetime?Week 15: vs. Bills, L — Josh Allen, againWeek 16: at Baltimore Ravens, L — Lamar JacksonWeek 17: at Jets, W — nopeWeek 18: vs. Dolphins, W — too cold
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The NFL still hates the PatriotsAnother late bye and a brutal stretch in the middle of the season, this is clearly Roger Goodell trying to keep New England from being relevant again.
Patriots defense will lead the league in turnoversVrabel’s side should get a nice mix of young and washed quarterbacks. They could face Aaron Rodgers on his last legs with Pittsburgh. Bryce Young, Michael Penix Jr. and Justin Fields aren’t strangers to mistakes. The Saints could roll out rookie Tyler Shough, and Cam Ward and Jaxson Dart will face growing pains in Tennessee and New York, respectively. And Cleveland could run with Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders, who don’t strike fear in any defense. The Patriots spent the offseason beefing up the defense, and fans will see the fruits of those labors.
Drake Maye wins MVPMaye’s continued ascension comined with Josh McDainels against a solid mix of weak defenses should produce wonderful results for the Patriots offense. If Mac Jones could have his best season with McDaniels, then Maye should be in the MVP conversation. He’s 66-1 to win the award at BetMGM, and you’ll feel sorry at not betting him at that number when the Patriots start making waves.