The New England Patriots far exceeded anyone’s wildest expectations this season by winning 14 games and securing their first AFC East division title since 2019.

For a good chunk of the 2025 NFL season, the Patriots were actually ranked No. 1 in a lot of power rankings. They also won 10 games in a row at one point, and starting quarterback Drake Maye might win league MVP in just his second pro season.

But the real season — aka the playoffs — is about to begin. The playoffs commence this weekend, with the Patriots hosting the Los Angeles Chargers at Gillette Stadium on Sunday (8 p.m. ET, NBC) in the AFC Wild Card Round.

Ultimately, the Patriots’ success or failure over the next month will have a profound impact on how they’re remembered for this season.

“Resumes are made in the regular season, legacies are made in the postseason,” Tom E. Curran said on the latest episode of NBC Sports Boston’s Patriots Talk Podcast. “If you’re my age, what do you think of when you hear the names Dan Marino and Charles Barkley? Great player, but too bad he never got a ring. Why is Bill Russell generally thought of as greater than Wilt Chamberlain, who was one of the most dominant athletes in sports history? Championships.

“Lamar Jackson is on that track. Peyton Manning lived on that track. Meanwhile, you have Eli Manning, who was a better-than-average quarterback but not great, and he’s revered because of what he did in the postseason. Do you want Julian Edelman or Wes Welker? And why?

“Unfortunately for the Patriots, the playoffs are the final exam, and it counts more than 50 percent of their grade. Win some in this postseason, and the legacy building begins. Lose fast, and you were a nice little story and off you go into the offseason. Their opponent this week, the Chargers, they’re a cautionary tale.

“(The Patriots) have something unique going on in 2025. Something that will be impossible to replicate, because that’s just the way it is.”

Young quarterbacks having success in the playoffs in Year 2 is not unheard of, so it wouldn’t be shocking if Maye rises to the occasion.

Joe Burrow took the Bengals to the Super Bowl in his second season. Patrick Mahomes almost took the Chiefs to the Super Bowl in his second year. Trevor Lawrence helped lead a 27-point comeback to win an AFC Wild Card game in his sophomore campaign. Lamar Jackson went 14-2 in his second year, but the Ravens lost at home to the Titans in the AFC Divisional Round.

The Patriots have engineered a remarkable turnaround over the last year. But there is still work to be done.

“This is how they’re going to put their stamp on the 2025 season,” Patriots insider Phil Perry said. “As impressive as it’s been, and I would say even if they lose this weekend, this season has been a success because of all their accomplishments in the regular season, and they found out they are for sure on the right track with this head coach and quarterback.

“But if they don’t win one in the postseason, it will change our collective memory of this team.”

Also in this episode:

Reacting to Will Campbell saying, “I don’t want to ever play for anybody else.”

Scouting report for the Chargers.

Does the weather and time of game favor the Chargers?

Who deserves to be MVP?

Wild card weekend predictions.