Which quarterback will be holding the Lombardi Trophy after this season? Will it be the Eagles' Jalen Hurts again?
Which quarterback will be holding the Lombardi Trophy after this season? Will it be the Eagles' Jalen Hurts again?Matt Slocum/Associated Press
It’s a new season and another new head coach for the Patriots, and we asked seven Globe writers for their predictions on how the team will fare under Mike Vrabel. Plus, see their picks for the playoffs and the Super Bowl.
Chad Finn
Patriots: 9-8
I’m trying to convince myself that there’s some 1994 potential with these 2025 Patriots. Drake Maye is the enticing second-year quarterback, like Drew Bledsoe then. New coach Mike Vrabel is the wise-cracking, respected boss charged with cleaning up a mess, like Bill Parcells (who was in his second year). Those ’94 Patriots made the leap from 5-11 to 10-6 and a wild-card berth. That is plausible for these Patriots if the core players can stay healthy, since the depth chart is so thin. I say this year’s Patriots make a five-win leap, too, which will feel like a hell of a season even when the playoff berth does not arrive this year.
AFC East: Bills
AFC North: Ravens
AFC South: Texans
AFC West: Chiefs
AFC wild cards: Bengals, Chargers, Broncos
NFC East: Eagles
NFC North: Packers
NFC South: Falcons
NFC West: Rams
NFC wild cards: Vikings, Lions, 49ers
Super Bowl: Packers over Chiefs. In the long-awaited rematch of Super Bowl I, Micah Parsons and his new friends pummel Patrick Mahomes, just like the Eagles did a year ago. Also: Need an NFC Championship game in snow-globey Green Bay, please.
Christopher L. Gasper
Patriots: 8-9
Deeming the prowess of the head coach as the unimpeachable component for success still seems to be the misguided mind-set around here. Mike Vrabel will restore respectability, but the Patriots need a lot more than a familiar coach to climb back to contention. This remains a rebuilding job lacking in raw materials, and Vrabel is the latest contractor to tackle it. He gives the Patriots something to build on by equaling the team’s combined win total the last two seasons.
AFC East: Bills
AFC North: Bengals
AFC South: Texans
AFC West: Chiefs
AFC wild cards: Ravens, Chargers, Raiders
NFC East: Commanders
NFC North: Lions
NFC South: Falcons
NFC West: 49ers
NFC wild cards: Eagles, Packers, Cardinals
Super Bowl: Bills over Lions. Hailee Steinfeld’s husband, better known as quarterback Josh Allen, delivers Buffalo its 2004 Red Sox moment, sparking hope for Patriots fans for Drake Maye as Allen Lite.
Christopher Price
Patriots: 7-10
There’s a lot of talent on both sides of the ball, and a more favorable schedule than they had in 2024, but the depth is woefully thin and there are still questions along the offensive line. They’ll be competitive enough to make people forget about the dysfunction of the last two seasons, but 2025 will be the first chapter in a rebuilding story that’s going to take a couple of years.
AFC East: Bills
AFC North: Bengals
AFC South: Texans
AFC West: Chiefs
AFC wild cards: Ravens, Steelers, Chargers
NFC East: Eagles
NFC North: Packers
NFC South: Buccaneers
NFC West: 49ers
NFC wild cards: Lions, Vikings, Rams
Super Bowl: Bills over Eagles. Let’s go, Buffalo. The Bills close out Highmark Stadium in style.
Dan Shaughnessy
Patriots: 7-10
Good vibes, easy schedule, a legit coach, and a promising young QB aren’t enough to push these guys into the playoffs, but the view from the top of the lighthouse remains spectacular.
AFC East: Bills
AFC North: Ravens
AFC South: Texans
AFC West: Chiefs
AFC wild cards: Chargers, Steelers, Bengals.
NFC East: Eagles
NFC North: Lions
NFC South: Buccaneers
NFC West: 49ers
NFC wild cards: Vikings, Commanders, Packers.
Super Bowl: Bills over Lions. Rust Belt battle of the long-suffering. Josh Allen and Bills emerge after pulsating AFC Championship win over Ravens in final game ever played at Highmark Stadium. One-hundred-year-old Marv Levy serves as honorary head coach in Super Bowl victory.
Tara Sullivan
Patriots: 8-9
The new era begins and starts out strong, with the push from new coach Mike Vrabel providing an immediate bump. But nothing can hide the Patriots’ shortcomings, and deficiencies along the offensive line and among the offensive weapons will catch up to them along the way.
AFC East: Bills
AFC North: Ravens
AFC South: Jaguars
AFC West: Chiefs
AFC wild cards: Jets, Bengals, Steelers
NFC East: Eagles
NFC North: Packers
NFC South: Buccaneers
NFC West: 49ers
NFC wild cards: Lions, Rams, Commanders
Super Bowl: Packers over Bills. Put me on the Green Bay bandwagon, right behind Micah Parsons. The rest of the league can blame Jerry Jones for handing over the final piece of their championship puzzle, with the Packers responsible for heartbreak for Josh Allen and the city of Buffalo.
Ben Volin
Patriots: 8-9
The roster should be improved, the coaching is much better, and the schedule is manageable — the third-easiest in the NFL. The Patriots should compete for the final wild-card spot, but in a loaded AFC, they still have too many issues at wide receiver, offensive line, and overall depth to get back over .500.
AFC East: Bills
AFC North: Bengals
AFC South: Texans
AFC West: Chiefs
AFC wild cards: Ravens, Broncos, Colts
NFC East: Commanders
NFC North: Packers
NFC South: Falcons
NFC West: 49ers
NFC wild cards: Eagles, Lions, Rams
Super Bowl: Ravens over Commanders. Crabcakes for all. Dan Quinn got the Falcons to the Super Bowl in his second year and he does it again with the Commanders, but Lamar Jackson and the Ravens are due to finally win a championship.
Nicole Yang
Patriots: 8-9
Earlier this summer, I predicted the Patriots to win nine games, but I have since docked them because of their lack of depth. Their improved starters should be strong enough to keep them competitive, but an injury has the potential to be disastrous. Inside linebacker, offensive line, and safety seem particularly thin. There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic, but it’s going to take time to rebuild the roster into a legitimate contender.
AFC East: Bills
AFC North: Ravens
AFC South: Texans
AFC West: Chiefs
AFC wild cards: Chargers, Bengals, Broncos
NFC East: Eagles
NFC North: Packers
NFC South: Buccaneers
NFC West: 49ers
NFC wild cards: Lions, Rams, Falcons
Super Bowl: Eagles over Bills. Returning 18 of their 22 starters from their Super Bowl LIX win, they have the makings to repeat.
Chad Finn can be reached at chad.finn@globe.com. Christopher L. Gasper is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at christopher.gasper@globe.com. Follow him @cgasper and on Instagram @cgaspersports. Christopher Price can be reached at christopher.price@globe.com. Follow him on Bluesky at christopherprice.bsky.social. Dan Shaughnessy is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at daniel.shaughnessy@globe.com. Follow him @dan_shaughnessy. Tara Sullivan is a Globe columnist. She can be reached at tara.sullivan@globe.com. Follow her @Globe_Tara. Ben Volin can be reached at ben.volin@globe.com. Nicole Yang can be reached at nicole.yang@globe.com.Follow her @nicolecyang.