ESPN Analyst Identifies Adjustment Patriots Must Make In 2026

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye and head coach Mike Vrabel

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The New England Patriots will enter the 2026 under far different circumstances than last year.

New England began Mike Vrabel's head-coaching tenure as a stealthy sleeper to make the playoffs. The Patriots sprinted past even those optimistic expectations by going 14-3 and winning the AFC title.

Nobody will let New England fly under the radar this season. The Patriots must navigate a tougher schedule to deliver an encore in 2026.

Patriots fans now officially know one matchup, as the NFL revealed that they'll play the Detroit Lions in Munich on Nov. 15. While ESPN analyzed the international schedule reveal on Wednesday's "Get Up," former linebacker Bart Scott questioned how the Patriots will respond to having a target on their backs as AFC champions.

"With the Patriots, it's intriguing," Scott said. "Because usually when you have a year that's unexpected, sometimes you have a course correction. Because people aren't used to being the hunted. They're used to being the hunters.