What happened: Manchester United and the New England Patriots are being compared after uneven starts under former players turned head coaches. United have four points from three matches, while New England opened 2026 with a 13-10 loss to Seattle.

Why it matters: The parallel hinges on whether strong previous seasons were discounted as schedule-driven before early results exposed deeper problems. Both teams now face scrutiny over whether their current starts are temporary turbulence or a broader decline.

What to watch: Upcoming results will test whether the comparison holds beyond the opening stretch.