Stephen A. Smith makes statement on Patriots' Super Bowl chances
ESPN's Stephen A. Smith shared his thoughts on the Patriots as Super Bowl contenders.
ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith has declared the New England Patriots to be legitimate Super Bowl contenders for the 2026 season. This assertion came during an appearance on First Take, following the Patriots' impressive 45-17 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 5. Smith's confidence in the Patriots' ability to compete at the highest level was evident in his comments after another dominant performance against the Buffalo Bills in the previous week.
Despite facing a challenging lineup with key players sidelined, the Patriots demonstrated their resilience and depth, as highlighted by Smith's observation about the team's ability to overcome injuries. With Drake Maye emerging as a potential MVP and the defense proving to be one of the most formidable units in the league, the Patriots have made significant strides since their opening season record of 1-2.
The primary question moving forward for the team is how much better they can become with their injured starters, particularly star wide receiver A.J. Brown, returning from his season-opening ankle injury.
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