Patriots' Schedule Could Be Their Achilles Heel | New England Patriots News

The New England Patriots look stacked on paper for 2026, but ESPN’s Bill Barnwell warns their schedule could be the hidden hurdle. Comparing them to the 1999 Rams—who soared after an easy year only to stumble the next—Barnwell shows teams with soft schedules average nine wins, dropping to eight the following year as opponents get tougher. Adding A.J. Brown helps, but injuries or a brutal slate could expose vulnerabilities. The real test? Can they win without the schedule handing them victories? Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/6fe0ee7333aa3bbf