It's been a whirlwind offseason for the New England Patriots, and not all the chatter is flattering. After falling short in the Super Bowl against the Seattle Seahawks, the Patriots are now facing a storm of skepticism from NFL executives who predict a major regression in the coming season.

Last year, New England rode a favorable regular-season schedule and a playoff run that saw them topple three elite defenses—though their path included a matchup with a Denver Broncos team missing Bo Nix. But in the Super Bowl, they couldn't keep pace with Seattle's firepower. Now, with the target of being AFC champions on their backs, many around the league believe the cracks are showing.

"It's funny you're asking me this, man, I was just looking at them," one NFL executive told Jason La Canfora. "Last in sacks allowed. Drake Maye gets hit 121 times, that's the most. The left tackle isn't a left tackle. The schedule is much tougher with them winning a division now. Put the Vrabel stuff aside, I think they're in trouble."

The executive didn't stop there, pointing to red-zone struggles on both sides of the ball. "Didn't like their red-zone offense. They rely heavily on the run. The defense? Bad in the red zone. They don't have enough impact defensive linemen. Look at their sacks, plus pressures, plus QB hits—I've got them 31st in the league."

To be fair, the Patriots haven't been idle this offseason. They've added wide receiver AJ Brown in a major move and signed Romeo Doubs, a red-zone specialist who has scored 18 of his 21 career touchdowns inside the 20-yard line. Defensively, they've brought in Gabe Jacas to bolster the pass rush and swapped K'Lavon Chaisson for Dre'Mont Jones. But one general manager remains unimpressed, noting that the rest of the AFC is getting healthier.

"There is nowhere for them to go but down," the GM told La Canfora. "Kansas City is going to be back. Baltimore should be better. Cincinnati is better. I don't think New England got better."

The schedule itself could be a problem. One executive highlighted how playing elite teams in harsh weather conditions could expose the Patriots' weaknesses. "I'm looking at it right here," the first exec said. "At Jacksonville..."

For Patriots fans, the doubt from league insiders is nothing new—but this time, the numbers and the tougher road ahead make the skepticism hard to ignore. Will New England prove the critics wrong, or is a major step back inevitable?