Patriots Enter Divisional Round Still Fighting for Respect - And That’s Nothing New
The Patriots are back in the playoff mix, and if you ask around, you might not even know it. Fresh off their first postseason win since 2021 - a solid victory over the Chargers - New England heads into the divisional round against the Texans with momentum, a home-field edge, and yet, somehow, very little love from the national spotlight.
Despite outperforming expectations all season and handling business in their Wild Card matchup, the Patriots are still being treated like a team that just stumbled into the playoffs. The conversation around their legitimacy - especially the constant nitpicking of their schedule - keeps resurfacing. And at this point, it’s getting tired.
But if you’ve followed this team long enough, you know this script. Disrespect isn’t a bug in the system - it’s part of the Patriots’ DNA.
Even during the dynasty years, with banners hanging and rings stacking up, there was always a narrative questioning if they were really that good. Now, with a new era underway and the old guard long gone, the skepticism remains.
And for this group, that might be just the fuel they need.
ESPN Analysts All-In on Houston - And Already Second-Guessing It
This week on NFL Live, the panel went around the table for their divisional-round picks - and it was a unanimous call for the Texans. Not a single analyst picked New England. But what made the moment go viral wasn’t just the clean sweep - it was the immediate regret on their faces once they realized it.
There’s a bit of an inside joke among fans and media alike: when everyone on a panel picks the same team, things tend to go sideways. Whether it’s superstition or just the unpredictability of the NFL playoffs, those groupthink moments rarely age well. And judging by the reactions on set, even the analysts knew they might’ve just walked into a trap.
You can bet Patriots fans took note. If New England pulls off the win this weekend and punches a ticket to the AFC Championship, this clip will be everywhere - from highlight reels to locker room bulletin boards.
And you can’t blame them. It’s a classic “nobody believed in us” moment, tailor-made for a fanbase that thrives on that underdog energy.
Same Mentality, New Faces
What’s fascinating is how this Patriots team - without Bill Belichick on the sideline or Tom Brady under center - still carries that same chip-on-the-shoulder mentality. The names have changed, but the mindset hasn’t. It’s still Patriots vs. the world, and whether it’s fair or not, that narrative continues to follow them.
And maybe that’s exactly where they want to be. Out of the spotlight.
Written off. Overlooked.
Because when this franchise has something to prove, history tells us they usually find a way to do it.
So as the Patriots prepare for a Texans team that’s earned its own share of buzz this season, don’t be surprised if this matchup turns into more than just a playoff game. For New England, it’s another chance to remind the league - and the doubters on national TV - that they’re still here, and they’re not going quietly.