The NFL is different in 2025.
Different as in “good luck betting on this monstrosity.”
The Patriots got a Thanksgiving gift on Thursday. The two scary, veteran teams, with their seasons on the line, faltered.
Patrick Mahomes looks like Patrick Mahomes, as in the Second Coming of Tom Brady, yet his Chiefs team is a hot mess nearly every Sunday.
The Ravens, given a gift after their horrific start with a mediocre AFC at the top, can’t make a big play and win a game worth winning.
Those teams had turkey leftovers tasting pretty good.
The Bills? Who the heck knows. Josh Allen looks like Josh Allen, as in an MVP candidate, and every game the Bills play comes down to the final 10 seconds.
Then there’s the new kids on the block – the Patriots, Broncos and Colts, still lingering at the top – all with a gaping hole or two.
The other side of the ledger, the NFC, isn’t much cleaner other than the precision-like L.A. Rams (for now!).
The Lions and Eagles are starting to look like the Chiefs and Ravens, maybe a little less messy.
Whereas the Packers, 49ers and Seahawks are enjoying their new-found glory.
From the Patriots perspective what does this all mean?
If you look at the Patriots regular season opponents in 2026, particularly if they hold onto first place in the AFC East, 10 wins might be a chore.
It appears they will host Denver, Green Bay and Baltimore and travel to Chicago, Detroit, Kansas City, both L.A. teams including the Super Bowl favorite Rams, and the AFC South division winner Indianapolis, Jacksonville or Houston.
The cupcake schedule is gone and Year 2 of rebuilds is usually tougher after a Year 1 success story.
In other words, the Patriots should treat this incredible season as an opportunity … to win the Super Bowl.
The top seed and playoff bye is not only in their sights, but it might be a disappointment if anything less occurred.
Mind you, the Patriots have warts. Their running back room is average. Their offensive line, which has struggled in run blocking for most of the season, is banged up. And with Milton Williams out for another month, this defense isn’t what it was the previous 2½ months.
But those are excuses.
That’s what the Patriots quarterback Drake Maye is for, an MVP contender this fall.
Can’t run the ball on 3rd-and-1? That’s on Maye and his A-list offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels, to figure out.
What the Patriots have exhibited, positively in these recent semi-struggles – all wins by the way – is that Maye has help … on both sides of the ball.
He’s got a kicker, Andy Borregales, who looks like a star.
He’s got a few receivers outside of Stefan Diggs – Pop Douglas, Kayshon Boutte and Mack Hollins – that have all made memorable, winning receptions.
And he’s got teammates at the cornerback position – Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis – that match up favorable with almost any duo in the league.
This AFC is not only there to be had come late January, with the Chiefs, Ravens and Bills in deep struggles, with the road to the Super Bowl possibly going through Foxborough, they might actually be the team to beat.
There is a lot of talk about the next 10 years with coach Mike Vrabel, Maye, etc., but there are no guarantees.
Exhibit A, the 2025 Washington Commanders and their immediate fall from grace after their unexpected run to the NFC Championship last year.
The Patriots are in position to host a few playoff games and, get this, compete for a championship – now.