Patriots v. Broncos. Patriots Expected To Win

The New England Patriots are positioned as the favorites heading into their upcoming matchup against the Denver Broncos in the 2026 regular season. The New England Patriots enter their 2026 regular-season rematch against the Denver Broncos as the favorites, with analysts and oddsmakers expecting them to win based on their strong performance in the prior playoff clash and overall momentum.

Early betting lines and expert previews position the Patriots as favored, reflecting their road success (8-0 in the 2025 playoffs), defensive grit, and quarterback Drake Maye's development. Many point to New England's ability to control games with ball security and opportunistic defense as reasons they hold the edge in the rematch.

The Broncos, who finished 14-3 in 2025 as the AFC's top seed, remain a tough opponent at home but face questions about offensive consistency without a fully healthy Nix. Players like Courtland Sutton have voiced confidence that a healthy Denver squad could flip the script, but the consensus leans toward New England prevailing in Foxborough.

This matchup carries added intrigue as a potential Super Bowl rematch flavor in the regular season, with the Patriots viewed as one of the AFC's elite teams post their championship appearance. Kickoff time, TV details, and exact spread will finalize closer to the date when the full schedule releases in the spring, but anticipation is building for what promises to be a competitive division-contender battle.