Rob Gronkowski didn’t exactly hand the Patriots a full endorsement when he weighed in on their 2025 season.
In an interview with Outkick, the former New England star said the team is still capable of playing like a playoff club, but he also pointed to the schedule as a real part of the conversation around their uneven start.
“Their schedule definitely was pretty, pretty simple last year. They’re playing tougher opponents this year, tougher defenses.
I think that has more to play with it,” Gronkowski said. “I definitely think the schedule plays a part in it for sure.
It really does.”
That kind of comment is bound to land a little sideways with Patriots fans, especially after hearing the same easy-schedule chatter all year long. The criticism followed New England from Week 1 through the Super Bowl, with the usual claims that the team wasn’t for real and had benefited from a soft path.
But the Patriots did more than just survive a favorable slate. They beat the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers, went on the road and took down Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills, and handled a Las Vegas Raiders team that was 3-1 at the time. They also picked up two divisional wins, the kind that are never simple no matter who’s lined up across from you.
That’s why the schedule argument only goes so far. Yes, the opponents matter.
Yes, tougher defenses can change the look of a season. But it’s also true that New England had to deal with its own share of difficult spots, including a loss to the defending Super Bowl champions on the road and another at Soldier Field against the Chicago Bears while undermanned on a short week.
For Mike Vrabel and his team, the job is still the same: handle what’s in front of them. They didn’t choose the schedule, and they don’t get to pick when the test gets harder. They just have to show up prepared, whether the opponent is a contender or a team thinking about draft position.
Gronkowski did give the Patriots credit, even if his words won’t sit perfectly with everyone in New England. For a team already dealing with injuries and plenty of outside noise, the comments can be used as more fuel. The Patriots have spent years being the team people love to doubt, and now they’ve got even a franchise legend adding to the conversation.
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