One thing we know about the NFL is all teams need is a berth to the playoffs to have a shot at making the championship game. Other than the top seed which gets a bye the first week, everybody has a shot to make it. Some teams got their record and their seeding through sustained success during the season, some with a late surge and some despite struggling down the stretch.
And some, like the Patriots, by not having to face many winning teams. Giving them by far the weakest schedule (.391) among playoff teams.
The Patriots faced just two teams this past season with a winning record — the Steelers (10-7) and Bills (12-5). And they lost to both teams. It was only because of an early season win over the Bills that they would beat exactly one winning team all season long.
You know who else only had one win against a winning team this past season? The worst team in the NFL — the Raiders.
Fewest wins against teams with winning records in 2025…
🔹Jets – 0
🔹Titans – 0
🔹Cardinals – 0
🔹Saints – 0
🔹Raiders – 1
🔹Cowboys – 1
🔹Chiefs – 1
🔹Dolphins – 1
🔸Patriots – 1— NFL Researcher (@NFL_Researcher) January 6, 2026
No other team with one or fewer wins against winning teams even made the playoffs.
As it happens, that one win the Raiders had against a winning team was their season-opening win over the Patriots in New England. So, in the battle of teams who only had one win over a winning team, the Raiders took the head-to-head.
Now, there’s really no chance the Raiders could beat the Patriots now or probably any time after sneaking up on them in the opener. And for the Patriots’ part, all you can do is play the teams on your schedule.
The Patriots will open the playoffs against the seven seed Chargers that beat four teams this season that had winning records, including the top seed Broncos. So, can the Patriots earn their second win over a team with a winning record and their first since September? Or will they prove they are a product of a cake walk schedule?
We find out Sunday at 5 p.m. Pacific (8 p.m. ET).
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Patriots pretenders? New England has common trait with NFL’s worst team
