If you walk into a bar in Southie and ask who the Patriots' biggest rival is, you’re gonna get three different answers from four different people. Some older guy will probably mumble about the Miami Dolphins and the "Orange Bowl jinx" from the 70s. A millennial might bring up the Indianapolis Colts and the classic Brady-Manning chess matches. But if you look at the 2026 landscape, things have shifted.
The era of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady is firmly in the rearview mirror. Now, we're looking at a world where Drake Maye is the face of the franchise and Mike Vrabel is the one stalking the sidelines. Honestly, the "rivalry" energy feels different when you aren't winning six Super Bowls in twenty years, but the bad blood? Yeah, that hasn't gone anywhere.
Basically, the patriots rivals are a mix of divisional enemies who finally smell blood and historic foes that just won't go away.
The Buffalo Bills: A New King in the East?
For about two decades, the Buffalo Bills were essentially a speed bump for New England. Then Josh Allen happened.
Right now, Buffalo is arguably the Patriots' most intense rival because they’re the team New England has to leapfrog to stay relevant. In 2025, the Patriots actually managed to overtake the Bills in the AFC East standings, finishing a resurgent 14-3. But don't let that fool you into thinking the Bills are done. Buffalo still made the playoffs last year, and Josh Allen remains the kind of "one-man wrecking ball" that keeps defensive coordinators awake at 3:00 AM.
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The 2026 season is going to be spicy. New England is scheduled to travel to the brand-new Highmark Stadium for the first time. If you think Orchard Park was loud before, wait until they're defending their turf against a Drake Maye-led offense.
- All-time series: Patriots lead 80–52–1.
- Recent vibe: Extremely hostile. The road team actually won both matchups in 2025.
- Why it matters: It’s a battle of the young guns. Maye vs. Allen is the marquee matchup that’s going to define the AFC East for the next five years.
The New York Jets: The Rivalry That Never Dies
You can’t talk about patriots rivals without mentioning the New York Jets. It doesn't matter if the Jets are 0-16 or 16-0; the fanbases loathe each other. This isn't just football; it’s a geographical and cultural war.
Historically, this rivalry was fueled by the "Border War" and the infamous Bill Belichick "resignation on a napkin" incident. In 2026, the Jets are in a bit of a weird spot. They’re rebuilding (again) under head coach Aaron Glenn after a disastrous 2025 where they went 3-14. New England swept them last year, including a brutal 42-10 blowout in December.
But here's the thing about the Jets: they always play the Patriots tough at MetLife. Even when they’re bad, they try to make the game a slog. It’s gritty, it’s ugly, and it’s exactly what AFC East football should be.
The Miami Dolphins: Speed and Humidity
Miami is the rival that New England fans usually overlook until they have to play in that 90-degree South Florida humidity in September. Historically, the Miami Dolphins are one of the few teams that actually hold a winning record against the Patriots (64–57).
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In 2025, the Patriots did something they hadn't done since 2016: they swept the Dolphins. It felt like a turning point. Miami is currently going through a bit of a transition—possibly looking for a new quarterback in 2026—but Mike McDaniel’s offense is still built on track-star speed. If you blink, Tyreek Hill is thirty yards behind your safety.
Beyond the Division: The Colts and the Chiefs
Outside of the AFC East, the rivalry with the Indianapolis Colts is the one with the most "prestige." Even though they don't play every year anymore, the ghosts of Peyton Manning and the Deflategate drama still haunt this matchup.
Then there's the Kansas City Chiefs. While it’s not a "traditional" rivalry in terms of history, they are the hurdle New England has to clear if they want another ring. Patrick Mahomes against the new-look Patriots defense is always a national TV draw. With the Chiefs missing the playoffs in 2025 due to Mahomes’ ACL injury, they’re going to be "reloading" in 2026 with a top-10 draft pick. That's a scary thought for the rest of the AFC.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're trying to keep up with these rivalries as the 2026 season kicks off, here’s how to stay ahead of the curve:
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- Watch the 2026 Draft: The Jets and Dolphins are both likely to be hunting for quarterbacks. Who they pick will determine if these rivalries get more competitive or stay lopsided.
- Monitor the Secondary: New England’s success against Buffalo and Miami depends entirely on Christian Gonzalez and the secondary. If they can’t take away the deep ball, the Patriots will struggle to sweep the division again.
- Track the New Highmark Stadium: The Patriots' first trip to the Bills' new stadium will be a historic environment. Expect tickets to be nearly impossible to find.
- Keep an eye on the injury reports: Specifically for the Green Bay matchup, as Micah Parsons is recovering from an ACL tear. His presence (or lack thereof) changes how the Patriots protect Drake Maye.
The hierarchy of patriots rivals is shifting. The Jets are the historical enemy, the Bills are the current threat, and the Dolphins are the perennial thorn in the side. But with a 14-3 record in the books and a playoff run underway, New England is no longer the underdog. They're the ones with the target on their back again.