"As most Patriots fans know at this point in the 2025 season, the team has been the subject of much criticism over the strength of its schedule and how that has led to their first winning season in four years. It has become a growing narrative to downplay what they have accomplished, especially Drake Maye, so surely those doubters will be happy that their 2026 slate of opponents is expected to be much more difficult, at least on paper."
"Because of that, the primetime game on Saturday between the Seahawks and 49ers was one to pay attention to, as the winner would be one of the Patriots' final road opponents to be figured out. With the Seahawks' win, which also made them NFC West Champions, that means the Patriots will be on the road in 2026 to play in Seattle for the first time since their shootout game in 2020."
"The Patriots' having a winning season means they're in for a brutal schedule next year From all the losing New England has done in recent years, they've faced a loser's schedule almost since Tom Brady left for Tampa. Now that they're back in the win column, they won't have that built-in excuse for the haters to use when they're successful in 2026, and will have to prove they're the real deal beyond what they accomplish this season, no matter how deep they go in the playoffs."
The Patriots clinched the AFC East for the first time since Tom Brady and now face a much tougher 2026 schedule after a winning 2025 season. Seattle's NFC West title locks in a 2026 road trip to Seattle, the first there since 2020. One remaining road opponent will be either the Houston Texans or the Jacksonville Jaguars depending on Week 18 results. Critics have downplayed recent successes and Drake Maye by citing a weak schedule, so New England will face heightened scrutiny while entering its final regular-season game as the AFC's No. 2 seed.
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