The New England Patriots exceeded the expectations of their fan base, by returning to national prominence in 2021. Following a one year absence from the NFL playoffs finished the season with a 10-8 record, having entered their late season bye week with a record of 9-4 while riding a seven-game win streak. For portions of the year, New England spent time atop the AFC East division, as well briefly holding the number one seed in the AFC playoff picture.
Despite sputtering down the stretch, including a demoralizing 47-17 loss to the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card round of the 2021 NFL Playoffs, the Patriots continued to win with the familiar formula of smart, complementary football in all three phases, as well as exemplary coaching.