An initial snapshot of the 2025 NFL schedule and it’s easy to understand the optimism growing for the New England Patriots.

The same Patriots team that finished with a 4-13 record in 2024 will have a legitimate shot at making a statement in coach Mike Vrabel’s first year with the team.

Quarterback Drake Maye, who made the Pro Bowl as a rookie, should be even better in his second year. The Patriots have worked all offseason rebuilding the offensive line and adding new explosive weapons at receiver and running back. They have also added more firepower on the defensive side of the ball.

Even if the Patriots fail to double their previous win total, they will be a tough out for any team they face this year. It’s hard to pick against them when seeing the opponents on their schedule. Here is a game-by-game prediction for every matchup for the Patriots in the 2025 regular season:

Week 1, Sept. 7: Patriots vs. Raiders

The Raiders added Ashton Jeanty to their offensive backfield, and tight end Brock Bowers should be even better in his second season. Yet, they are still lacking in offensive weapons at wide receiver, outside of former Patriots wideout Jakobi Meyers. Pete Carroll’s return to New England will get spoiled in this season-opening matchup.

Prediction – WIN

Week 2, Sept 14: Patriots at Dolphins

Miami has been a house of horrors for the Patriots over the years. There’s hope that will change under Mike Vrabel, but I’ll have to see it to believe it. Tua Tagovailoa is also 7-0 against the Patriots in head-to-head matchups. The Dolphins should hand New England their first loss in this one.

Prediction – LOSS

Week 3, Sept 21: vs. Steelers

The Patriots are 8-2 against the Steelers in their last 10 games, and Tom Brady wasn’t the quarterback in any of those matchups. There’s something about these matchups that always seems to lean in New England’s favor. That won’t be changing this season with the clear lack of direction at quarterback for a Steelers team that appears to be sitting on its thumbs, waiting around for a potential Aaron Rodgers signing.

Prediction – WIN

Week 4, Sept. 28: Patriots vs. Panthers

Patriots quarterback Drake Maye will get his first crack at facing his home NFL team. The Panthers are a young and rebuilding football team, and the Patriots are clearly at an advantage facing them at home this early in the season. This is the perfect opportunity for New England to add to the win column.

Prediction – WIN

Week 5, Oct. 5: at Bills

The Patriots are on the rise, but the Bills are still the best team in the AFC East. Nothing will come easy in this game for Josh Allen and company against an improved Patriots defense. However, the Bills will rise to the occasion in the end on the shoulders of the reigning NFL MVP.

Prediction: LOSS

Week 6, Oct. 12: at Saints

Derek Carr retiring has left the Saints hoping either Spencer Rattler or Tyler Shough prove to be long-term options at quarterback. Regardless, this could be a dumpster fire season for a Saints team with cap problems and dwindling roster talent. They only won five games last season, and they’d be lucky to do better in 2025. Give me the Patriots in this game.

Prediction – WIN

Week 7, Oct. 19: at Titans

The Titans have a lot of holes to fill, and a rookie quarterback isn’t going to solve those issues overnight. Even if Cam Ward is as good as advertised, the Patriots still look like the superior football team on paper. They’ll get their revenge for the 20-17 overtime loss last season.

Prediction – WIN

Week 8, Oct. 26: vs. Browns

Who is the quarterback for the Browns, again? It might not matter considering how scary they are on the defensive side of the ball. There’s always the potential for a home game to look ugly for the Patriots, and this is the game I’m picking in 2025. The Browns’ defense will force turnovers and keep their struggling offense in the game long enough to pull off a win on the road.

Prediction – LOSS

Week 9 Nov. 2: vs. Falcons

Michael Penix Jr. only started in three games at quarterback last season, so there will be a learning curve for the 2024 first-round draft pick. That lack of experience should create an opportunity for the Patriots’ improved defensive unit to feast in this matchup.

Prediction – WIN

Week 10, Nov. 9: at Buccaneers

This will be a tough game for the Patriots on the road against a team with seemingly endless wide receiver talent. Emeka Egbuka joining the likes of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin is a real problem. Despite a valiant effort, the Patriots will come up short against Baker Mayfield and company.

Prediction – LOSS

Week 11, Nov. 13: vs. Jets

The Jets are hitting the reset button, again, at the quarterback position after moving on from Aaron Rodgers in the offseason. It’s hard to envision Justin Fields being a better option than the 41-year-old future Pro Football Hall of Famer. I’m taking the Patriots at home in this one.

Prediction – WIN

Week 12, Nov. 23: at Bengals

The Bengals could be a walking disaster on the defensive side of the ball, but they are loaded offensively with quarterback Joe Burrow throwing to star receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. This will be a revenge game from the Patriots’ shocking upset win over Cincinnati in Week 1 last year. I’m not banking on things ending with the same outcome.

Prediction – LOSS

Week 13, Dec. 1: vs. Giants

This matchup features the two young quarterbacks with Maye potentially going head-to-head with Jaxson Dart for the first time in the NFL. Granted, Russell Wilson might still be the starter at this time, depending on Dart’s overall development. With that said, the Giants have major offensive question marks outside of wideout Malik Nabers. The Patriots should be able to take care of business at home in this one.

Prediction – WIN

Week 14: BYEWeek 15, Dec. 14: vs. Bills

The Patriots own a win over the Bills at home last season, but it was late in the season with Buffalo resting most of their starters. That still doesn’t take away from the fact that the Patriots played the Bills tough last year. The Drake Maye and Josh Allen matchups will only get better from here on out. I’m taking the Patriots to steal an upset win over the Bills again at home.

Prediction – WIN

Week 16, Dec. 21: at Ravens

Lamar Jackson is one of the hardest quarterbacks in the league to defend against. Things get even tougher with this matchup slated for M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. It’ll be a fun matchup for the Patriots to gauge where they are when it comes to playing against the best in the league outside of the AFC East division. But this one isn’t likely to have a happy ending for New England.

Prediction – LOSS

Week 17, Dec. 28: at Jets

The location of this game won’t change the fact that it looks like the Jets could be a walking disaster in 2025. Perhaps they’ll overcome the odds and prove everyone wrong. The likelihood is a year of disappointment and another loss to the Patriots.

Prediction – WIN

Week 18, Jan. 3-4: vs. Dolphins

Tua Tagovailoa’s perfect 7-0 record against the Patriots will finally come to an end in 2025. The Patriots will put forth a better defensive fight against Miami’s explosive offense, while also showing off their own offensive firepower against a Dolphins defense that could take a step back this year.

Prediction – WIN

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Final record prediction: 11-6

An 11-6 finish would mark a dramatic turnaround for the Patriots, but it’s well within reach given the roster and coaching changes the team has made. It also helps that they’ll have arguably the easiest schedule in the league. That should enable the Vrabel-led Patriots to go on a strong regular season run, similarly to what the Washington Commanders did after drafting Jayden Daniels last year.

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