The Patriots opened 2026 the hard way, and now the noise is already cranking up after one week. New England is 0-1, third in the AFC East, and showing up anywhere from 8th to 19th in the early power-rankings shuffle. The Jets are sitting at 1-0 and on top of the division, which only adds to the sting.
That’s where the debate starts to get loud. Pete Prisco labeled the upcoming game against the Steelers “a must win.”
The source material doesn’t exactly buy into that level of urgency this early, and it’s easy to see why. One loss in September doesn’t decide anything, even if the rhetoric is already acting like it does.
Still, the Steelers are next, and New England’s schedule isn’t doing it many favors. Conor Orr pointed to this week as a chance for a “silence-all-doubters game,” while also noting the Patriots are dealing with both an emotional reset and a need to clean up the scheme. Frank Schwab went even further in pushing back on the backlash around Drake Maye, arguing the criticism has less to do with one rough opener than the lingering reflex to pile on the Patriots.
The opener itself left plenty for the rankings crowd to chew on. Bradley Locker of PFF had New England at 8th, crediting Drake Maye’s performance last year and the boost from Brown entering his third pro season, while also pointing to a defense that finished third in EPA per play and points per drive. Locker also noted the offseason doubt around the pass rush and run game, but still sees a path back to the playoffs with the 13 th -easiest schedule.
Vinnie Iyer of Sporting News put the Patriots 9th and called the Seahawks matchup a bad draw in Seattle, even though New England had a chance to win late behind what he described as a more impressive defense. He also flagged the next stretch, with the Steelers, Jaguars and Bills all lined up early.
At ESPN, NFL Nation landed on edge rusher Dre’Mont Jones as the non-QB newcomer debut worth highlighting. Jones, who signed a three-year, $36.5 million deal in free agency, finished with four QB hits, one sack and two tackles.
The report said he was generally solid against the run, too. Mike Reiss also pointed to sixth-round rookie linebacker Namdi Obiazor, who led the team with three special teams tackles, including one on the opening kickoff.
Other rankings focused squarely on Drake Maye’s rough start. Nate Davis of USA Today noted that Maye has four multi-interception games in his three-year career, with half of them coming in his past two starts against Seattle.
Ralph Vacchiano of FOX Sports highlighted three interceptions by Maye and added that an injury will cost WR A.J. Brown a month, while also noting the Seahawks were led by Drew Lock.
Mike Florio kept it short and sharp at 13th: “Fortunately, blowing it twice in the same game counts as only one loss.”
The AFC East slate around New England includes the Jets against the Packers, the Bills against the Lions, and the Dolphins at the 49ers. Around the rest of the AFC, the matchups stretch from Ravens-Saints to Bengals-Texans, Raiders-Chargers, and Browns-Buccaneers, with the Chiefs and Colts also on the board.
For now, the Patriots are where the record says they are. The rankings are still early, the takes are already hot, and the Steelers are waiting.
In Other News...
Patriots Suddenly Have A Trade Watch Worth Following On Defense
The Patriots defensive front is already under the microscope after Week 1 exposed some soft spots in the linebacker group, and that has made the trade market worth monitoring a little earlier than usual. One name that has surfaced is Giants edge linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux, whose role in New York appears to have shrunk enough to raise questions about where he fits long term.
For New England, the appeal is obvious: a player with pass-rush talent and a chance to help a defense that needs more impact at the second level. The buzz is that Thibodeaux could be had for a mid-round draft pick, which is the kind of price that can turn a speculative idea into a real conversation, even if the Giants are not ready to settle the issue just yet. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Rookie Is Already Filling A Role New England Desperately Needed
The Patriots used a busy April draft to stock up on help, and a few of those rookies have already found ways to matter. Caleb Lomu, Gabe Jacas, Eli Raridon and Namdi Obiazor all arrived in New England with different jobs ahead of them, but early in the season the team has seen contributions across the board. Jacas got to the quarterback for his first NFL sack in Week 1, Raridon put his name in the record book by scoring the first touchdown of the NFL season, and Obiazor has started to carve out a place on special teams.
For New England, Obiazors role may wind up being the most immediately important of the group. The Patriots are leaning on him and other rookies to help replace the special teams losses from last season, and he has already shown he can handle limited snaps with three tackles. It is the kind of quiet but necessary contribution that can matter more than flashy offensive moments, especially for a team trying to rebuild depth wherever it can find it. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Keep Tweaking Roster Depth With Another Notable Shuffle
The Patriots kept adjusting the bottom of the roster Monday, bringing safety Elliott Davison back onto the practice squad after clearing space by releasing tight end Shane Zylstra. Davison had already spent time on New Englands practice squad earlier this season, and the former Saints defensive back gives the team another familiar name to lean on as it continues sorting through depth options.
Zylstras release came with an injury waiver, another reminder that the practice squad churn is rarely just about talent evaluation this time of year. New Englands current group also includes several other reserve options, and the team has kept the door open with recent workouts for a couple of players as it tries to keep the right mix available behind the active roster. [Read more 🡒]