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New England Patriots
Overall: 17
Title track: 2
Ownership: 20
Coaching: 2
Players: 2
Fan relations: 12
Affordability: 79
Stadium experience: 36
Bang for the buck: 37
Change from last year: +8
If quarterback Tom Brady serving a four-game suspension to open the NFL season was supposed to get Patriots fans down, it didn't work. In fact, optimism for the team might be at an all-time high as the Patriots improved eight spots in ESPN's Ultimate Standings, after making an 18-spot jump the year before. The only nitpick for fans is the rising cost to attend a game.
What's good
Pretty much everything, which is the way it goes with a team that is an annual Super Bowl contender. The Patriots' No. 2 title track ranking is the best in the NFL, as are the No. 2 rankings for coaching and players. No NFL team ranked better in categories like "consistently win more games than they lose," "will win at least one championship in my lifetime" and "demonstrate a commitment to winning." Bill Belichick's work without Tom Brady at the start of the 2016 season has been widely lauded as exemplary -- no surprise, since he's been ranked No. 1 or 2 in the NFL in these standings for each of the past six years. After all, that's why they have a saying in New England: "In Bill We Trust."
What's bad
The Patriots rank 79th in affordability, which is an 11-spot improvement from the 2015 ultimate rankings, but still lags overall. Tickets are indeed expensive (the average price of $122 is cheaper only than the Giants), but one thing the Patriots often point out is that when Gillette Stadium opened in 2002, there were no personal seat licenses. So that contributed to some higher ticket costs. Also, for those who believe "you get what you pay for": For all those high prices, a great bang for the buck ranking shows that the Patriots haven't disappointed, annually putting a winning product on the field.
What's new
The Patriots saw a significant increase in stadium experience, jumping 15 spots to No. 36. Among the unique parts of attending a game at Gillette Stadium is the bridge in the north side of the end zone where fans can congregate during the game. Also, those with some extra change to spare can take in a field-level, end zone view from the new Optum Field Lounge, where fans can get close to the action during warm-ups. Independent-minded New Englanders also rewarded Robert Kraft for his fight against the NFL over the handling of Brady's suspension: The Patriots' ownership ranking spiked 20 spots, to No. 23 overall.
Next: Denver Broncos | Full rankings