After a whirlwind offseason marked by significant roster turnover and coach Mike Vrabel's personal controversies, the New England Patriots are entering 2026 as the team others in the AFC are targeting.

The Patriots' surprise run to Super Bowl LX — a 29-13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks — has shifted their identity from underdogs to hunted. Quarterback Drake Maye and linebacker Robert Spillane expressed how the Super Bowl heartbreak fuels their motivation, while opponents like the Indianapolis Colts are already raising their intensity levels in joint practices.

New England aggressively reshaped the roster, signing key veterans including A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs, Kevin Byard, and Alijah Vera-Tucker. However, Vrabel's absence during the draft due to a personal scandal and his subsequent counseling leave added uncertainty to the team's trajectory.

Despite the upheaval, Vrabel remains focused on establishing team identity, using motivational analogies like the orange squeezing story to emphasize resilience under pressure. As Marcus Jones noted, 'We are the team being hunted. We have to wear that chip on our shoulder every time we get out there.' The season opener against the Seahawks on Sept. 9 will be their first test.