"It's no secret that the New England Patriots benefited from a weak 2025 schedule due to their awful 2024 season. The NFL structures the scheduling system that way, though some observers seem to feel that the Patriots assembled their own schedule. They didn't, and their Cinderella-like season with a record of 14-3 came as a result of the schedule the NFL set. Yet, some like CBS Sports continue to carry that illogic even now by still denigrating the Patriots' achievements."
"By dethroning the Buffalo Bills, the Patriots will face a tougher schedule in 2026. Divisional winners pay that price. It is what it is, reality in the NFL. It's the NFL's attempt, along with the draft and salary cap, to try to achieve some parity among teams. Whatever anyone thinks, the schedule the NFL puts before the team is the one they play. They have no say over what that is. And neither do they or any other NFL team have any impact on who's injured or not on any opposing team they play at any time during the season."
The NFL awards easier schedules to teams that performed poorly, producing weaker 2025 opponents for the Patriots after a bad 2024. The Patriots finished 14-3 largely because of that schedule, not by constructing opponents. Divisional winners inherit tougher schedules the following season, which can reduce wins but does not guarantee regression. Teams cannot control the opponents or their injury statuses; schedules and injuries are set by factors outside a team's control. Some outlets predict a multi-game regression for the Patriots in 2026 given a harder slate and playoff-caliber opposition.
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