ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith believes the New England Patriots are legitimate Super Bowl contenders in the 2026 season.
He answered the question when appearing on First Take, following the Patriots‘ 45-17 blowout win over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 5. That lopsided performance came after the Patriots upset the Buffalo Bills at Orchard Park in the previous week.
“The answer to this question, the Patriots are obviously Super Bowl contenders. There’s no doubt about that,” said Smith. “You go into a game last night, you got Carlton Davis III out, you got Christian Gonzalez out, okay? Plus, you were down three other starters. A.J. Brown is out. Mack Hollins is out. Will Campbell had a knee injury. TreVeyon Henderson had the ankle injury. They had to leave the game. We get all of that, right? And they still won.”
After starting the season with a 1-2 record, the Patriots have exploded back into the top-tier category of NFL teams. Drake Maye is playing like the MVP quarterback that he proved himself to be last season, and the defense has been one of the most resilient units in the league.
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No matter who goes down with an injury, the Patriots find ways to beat good football teams.
How good can the Patriots get when they get their missing pieces back on the field? That’s the biggest question for the team moving forward, starting with star wide receiver A.J. Brown, who is nearing a return from the ankle injury he suffered in the season opener.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Stephen A. Smith makes statement on Patriots’ Super Bowl chances