Patriots crack top five in AFC rankings ahead of 2026 season
Even with a tougher schedule, the Patriots are still viewed as one of the best teams in the AFC conference.
The New England Patriots are approaching the 2026 NFL season with expectations to be one of the best teams in the AFC.
The Athletic ranked the Patriots No. 4 out of all 16 teams in the AFC for this season, determined by a panel of NFL executives, signaling strong confidence in New England's chances of having another successful season in 2026.
The ranking puts the Patriots just behind the Buffalo Bills (No. 1), Denver Broncos (No. 2) and Houston Texans (No. 3) in the AFC hierarchy. New England has assembled a roster capable of competing at the highest level against the best teams in the AFC, but the prowess at the top of the conference is strong heading into the season.
Much of the attention will center on the Patriots' ability to maintain their momentum throughout the season with a tougher schedule to deal with.
A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs and Alijah Vera-Tucker will be expected to take the Patriots over the top in the Super Bowl race, while the Patriots' coaching staff faces the task of drawing up schemes to give New England an edge over the toughest teams in their way.
With Week 1 of the upcoming season on the horizon, another layer of anticipation around New England and its championship aspirations will follow the team into the upcoming year.
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