This Might Be Most Stunning, Telling Stat About Patriots’ Schedule

Expectations are undoubtedly higher for the Patriots in 2025 than they were in 2024.

Maybe that shouldn’t come as a surprise. New England put a quick end to the Jerod Mayo era, as the first-year head coach was severely overmatched. Enter Mike Vrabel, one of the league’s most respected head coaches.

Drake Maye, the No. 3 pick a year ago, is entering his pivotal second season with momentum. He did enough in his rookie campaign for many to believe he can be a franchise quarterback. The Patriots treated him as such with their offseason moves, building an offense in front of and around him through free agency and the draft.

On top of all of that, the Patriots play, on paper, an even easier schedule in 2025.

We now know all the specifics of that schedule, too, after its release Wednesday night. Even if you think the hype train is getting out of control, it’s hard to look at the slate and not see opportunities for improvement.

Sportsbooks certainly feel that way. As Yahoo Sports betting analyst Ben Fawkes pointed out Thursday, the Patriots opened as betting favorites in 11 of their 17 scheduled games.

Last season, they weren’t favored in a single game.

There are other ways the betting market tells that same story. Last year, the Patriots were among the biggest long shots to win the Super Bowl with triple-digit odds next to their name. Right now, at FanDuel Sportsbook, the Patriots are 65-1 to win it all, sandwiched between the Seahawks and Dolphins, two teams that won a combined 18 games last season and narrowly missed the playoffs.

The Patriots, after going 4-13 last season, are expected to blow by that win total in 2025. The futures and betting lines suggest as much, as do the win total odds.

Per FanDuel:

Over 5.5 wins: -450
Over 7.5 wins: -145
Over 9.5 wins: +190

On top of all that, they’re +160 to make the playoffs, suggesting a slight long shot but a far cry from the bottom of the league as they were a year ago with teams like Cleveland and the Giants, who are both in the neighborhood of 8-1 to just get into the dance.

Ultimately, the Patriots have to take care of business, but it’s clear the vibes, the narratives and perception around the team have started to shift in the right direction.