The New England Patriots opened training camp this week with a singular focus: capturing the seventh Super Bowl title in franchise history. Following a stellar 14-win campaign and an AFC Championship under Mike Vrabel in 2025, the Patriots enter the 2026 season with heightened expectations. As players take the field at Gillette Stadium, we break down the most critical storylines defining the Patriots’ preseason. Patriots preseason 2026: Top storylines to followHere are some of the biggest highlights heading into the 2026 preseason. The Patriots 2026 scheduleWinning a championship is hard; repeating the feat against one of the most grueling schedules in the NFL is another story.