Rob Gronkowski gives reality check to Patriots under HC Mike Vrabel's leadership

The New England Patriots had the forth worst record in the NFL in 2024. However, there are now fans and analysts making the claim that the Patriots may challenge for the playoffs in 2025.

This offseason, the Patriots hired Mike Vrabel as their new head coach, drastically improved the defensive and offensive lines, and signed an elite WR in Stefon Diggs. As a result, this has led fans and former players, including legendary tight end Rob Gronkowski, to outline how he could see the Patriots becoming a top team in 2025.

The comments were made on the popular 'Bussin' With The Boys' podcast on Tuesday.

"I'm going on record to say that they're making the playoffs this year as well... The Dolphins are going to 'Dolphin', they're going to look beautiful real quick out of the water and then they're going to sink back down. The Jets? They’re just too far away still. And then, the Bills, they're going to, you know, the Bills are good. They’re established. They're going to obviously be the dominant. But, I think the Patriots, they can sneak into the playoffs this year. I can see that." (01:53:31) Gronk said.

Will the New England Patriots make the playoffs in 2025?

We had Sportskeeda's Playoff Predictor Tool predict every New England Patriots game in 2025. Despite Gronkowski's belief that the Patriots would make the playoffs next season, the franchise only recorded two more wins than it did in 2024.

The Patriots had wins over the Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Tennessee Titans, and Cincinnati Bengals. As a result, the franchise finished the 2025 regular season with a record of 6-11. Due to this, the Patriots did not qualify for the postseason in that simulation.

Elsewhere in the division, the Buffalo Bills finished with a record of 12-5, good enough for the AFC East championship and the No. 2 seed in the AFC. The New York Jets finished in second place with a record of 10-7, good enough for a postseason spot as the No. 6 seed. Finally, the Dolphins finished third with a record of 8-9 and did not make the playoffs.

Sportskeeda Playoff Predictor Tool