Patriots 'Are the Real Deal' Atop the AFC, Says Rob Gronkowski

All eyes are on the New England Patriots this weekend, as they could become the first 10-win team of the 2025 NFL season when they take on the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday (1 p.m. ET).

Two of the franchise's biggest stars, former players Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman, broke down how they feel about their former team's performance so far this season and what to expect next on "FOX NFL Sunday."

Gronkowski, who was just recently in attendance for the Patriots' Week 11 win over the New York Jets at home in Massachusetts last week, believes that there's something special happening with the Patriots this season.

"There's a lot of energy right now in Foxborough," Gronkowski said. "It was so great to be back, and you felt that type of energy even on a Thursday night game with a short week. Are the Patriots the best team in the AFC? I think so because they know how to be coached, and they know how to take that coaching and apply it to the field as well. 

"They have an offense and a defense that knows how to work together. They play complementary football out there all the time, and they learn from their mistakes. … The Patriots, they're the real deal."

New England (9-2) sits atop the AFC East and is tied with AFC West-leading Denver for the best record in the division.

"I think it's too early in the season to just go out and determine [who] is the best team in the AFC," Edelman countered. "We don't know too much about this team in these later parts of the season, which is the most important part. 

"… I'm not turning on New England, but I'm just not trying to put the jinx on them. … We need to go out, we need to learn. We need to get better."

Ahead of Week 12, the Patriots rank second in total passing yards (2,685), third in