On Sunday, the Patriots (13-3) pulled off their most dominant win of the season, beating the Jets (3-13) at MetLife Stadium 42-10 and doing so while missing more players from injury (7) than they have in any other game this season.
In getting the win, the Patriots put themselves in a position to clinch the AFC East later that night, needing the Bills (11-5) to lose at home to the Eagles (11-5) to clinch the division crown. Buffalo did just that, and the Patriots were able to walk off their team bus on Sunday night to a table filled with hats and t-shirts for the first time since 2019.
The pure domination and the division title are storylines 1A and 1B from Sunday, there’s no doubt about it. But baked into both of those is the fact that the Patriots completed the 2025 regular season with a perfect 8-0 record on the road. That’s only happened three times in franchise history.
And while this stat feels fluky, the fact of the matter is this - the floor for an undefeated season on the road for New England is an appearance on sports’ biggest stage:
- 2007, as the team went 16-0 in the regular season before ultimately suffering the most painful loss in franchise history in Super Bowl XLII
- 2016, as the team went 14-2 in the regular season before ultimately completing the greatest single-game comeback in league history in Super Bowl LI
- 2025, as the team currently sits at 13-3 heading into Week 18 of the regular season, with a potential No. 1 seed in the AFC in the offing
Super Bowl LX is still a ways away. A lot of football left to play before we have to worry about flights out to San Francisco.
For now, head coach Mike Vrabel is proud of his group for adding this unique line item to their resume.
“I think the numbers would just speak for themselves,” Vrabel told The Greg Hill Show on Monday morning. “However many times it's been done, I don't know. We try to take them - whatever the situation presents, whether we're up early or we need to come back or we need to execute a certain situation, you just know that there are certain things that are a little bit difficult. When you talk about the road environment and traveling, [it’s] just a different mindset.
“I appreciate the way that the players, and I think that our staff - our staff here, the travel logistics and everything, it starts with that. And then the equipment staff and the training staff and everybody that transports this building to another place and to another hotel to make the players feel comfortable and get everything that they need, and the treatment and the preparation. And then, obviously, our fans - the way that they've traveled, I know that our team appreciates that, and I'm glad that we've been able to give them something to travel for and cheer for. So going all the way back to Miami, I can appreciate our fans being [there] and wanting to travel.”
The Patriots will look to move to 6-3 at home in Week 18, where they’ll have a chance to clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC with a win over the Dolphins (7-9) and a loss by the Broncos (13-3) to the playoff-bound Chargers (11-5).
As of publishing, the Patriots are a 9.5-point favorite, sitting on the moneyline at -575. The total is set at 45.5.
Tune in each and every Monday throughout the football season to Patriots Monday on WEEI. Head coach Mike Vrabel joins The Greg Hill Show at 6:30 a.m. ET, and quarterback Drake Maye joins WEEI Afternoons.