‘4 Downs’ with Rich: New England Patriots’ Biggest Questions for 2026

The defending AFC champion New England Patriots got the 4 Downs treatment, and Rich started with a draft class everyone remembers.

A couple of years ago, three quarterbacks went to open the draft. Caleb Williams had an up-and-down first year before going through the roof last season. Another was a unicorn right out of the box and ran away with offensive rookie of the year. The third got a little marinating time before the team decided to throw him in anyway, with Jerod Mayo as head coach and an offensive coordinator who, as Rich put it, wasn't Josh McDaniels.

Then came Mike Vrabel and McDaniels, and Drake Maye became "a total rocket ship." Rich doesn't believe anyone who knows anything sees that as a one-off or a one-hit wonder, which gave him the chance to invoke Dexys Midnight Runners.

First down is the new weapon. Will AJ Brown have the impact on Maye the Patriots hoped for? With all due respect to Stefon Diggs, and with Romeo Doubs also brought in, the wide receiver room has improved "to say the least." Rich also sees a receiver with a point to prove, an AJ Brown who wants to show the problem in Philadelphia wasn't him.

Second down is the offensive line, which Rich called a massive issue last year that got masked by all those wins. Is Will Campbell any better in year two, or "does the turnstile keep on turning?"

The idea that Campbell would be kicked inside hasn't happened. He is still the left tackle on the depth chart, and Rich thinks New England has gotten better on that left side around him. Chris noted Campbell was playing okay before he got hurt, missed time, maybe came back too early, and wasn't good in the playoffs. Rich could see it wearing on him "in between the temples."

It all runs straight to the quarterback. If the left side isn't strong enough, Maye starts to speed himself up, and the ball security issues from last year could come back.

Third down is a defense that doesn't get enough credit. "A lot of people don't know the Patriots had a top five defense last year," Rich said. They were opportunistic, and they didn't give up points.

So the question is whether it can stay top five, and Christian Gonzalez being paid and happy would be a big piece of that. Rich was emphatic about where last season's run came from. Everyone talks about Maye being amazing and Vrabel being coach of the year, but the Patriots made the Super Bowl "because the defense 1,000% got them there. It wasn't cuz the offense was lighting it up in the playoffs at all."

Fourth down was the one Rich said he had to mention. "Does Mike Vrabel's TMZ world crash in on the locker room in any way, shape, or form?"

It hasn't been talked about much, though NBC did raise it at the Hall of Fame game. What worries Rich is the calendar. The Patriots open at Seattle, a tough place to play with a banner raise, then host Pittsburgh before going to Jacksonville and Buffalo. The Steelers beat New England last year.

If that turns into a 1 and 3 or 0 and 4 start, Rich wonders whether the locker room keeps buying what the reigning coach of the year is selling. He was clear it could all be put to bed. He just doesn't think enough people are asking.

Chris pointed out that none of it has been an issue in the preseason. Rich's answer: "Well, it's because it's the preseason." Doubt creeps in, he said, even while calling Vrabel one of the best coaches in the league.

Rich also flagged the running back room, which couldn't crack his four downs. Is TreVeyon Henderson getting the lion's share? Chris expects more of a split, noting that Henderson came on late last year but the playoffs were all Rhamondre Stevenson, "so we know who the coaching staff trusts."

Chris added his own concern as a fan. The defense forced turnovers but finished near the bottom of the league in sacks with only 35, a pass rusher drafted to help with that has been pretty MIA in the preseason, and linebacker looks thin against the run. He still thinks they make the playoffs again. How deep they go is the question.

Rich circled back to the opening stretch, three of the first four on the road, against the defending Super Bowl champs, the defending AFC South champs, and a Buffalo team that had every opportunity last year. New England started 1 and 2 last season before a crazy run, and the feeling on set was that this one could look similar.