The New England Patriots completed one of the most stunning turnarounds in NFL history this season. From four wins in 2024 to the Super Bowl in 2026. No one saw it coming. Everyone is now trying to figure out how they did it.

The 15-Minute Celebration

December 28, 2025. The Patriots clinched the AFC East when Buffalo lost to Philadelphia. Players huddled on team buses, watching the final seconds tick off on their phones.

They erupted when the Bills fell. Then they arrived at Gillette Stadium, grabbed their championship hats and t-shirts, took a team photo, and went back to work.

The entire celebration lasted roughly 15 minutes.

'Other than that, it was back to work,' head coach Mike Vrabel told reporters. 'You don't have time to marinate in one step when you're pursuing a championship.'

The End of a Dynasty

The Patriots' rise shatters what seemed untouchable. The Kansas City Chiefs had appeared in five of the previous six Super Bowls. They won three championships. They owned the AFC for seven years.

That era is over. The Chiefs are watching this Super Bowl from home.

New England joined Denver and Jacksonville as teams transforming from also-rans to contenders. The Broncos ended Kansas City's nine-year AFC West streak. The Jaguars made their own leap. But the Patriots went from four wins to the Super Bowl.

The Big Game Details

Super Bowl LX kicks off Sunday, February 9, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. ET at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The Patriots face the Seattle Seahawks as 2.5-point underdogs.

A victory would make New England just the fourth team ever to reach the Super Bowl after winning four or fewer games the previous season. They would join the 1999 Rams, 1988 Bengals, and 2003 Panthers.

The Patriots did not just end the Chiefs dynasty. They reminded everyone what NFL parity looks like.