Patriots fans remain confident that the team could exceed expectations despite the home-opening loss to Seattle.

Fans turned out to Gillette Stadium bright and early ahead of Sunday’s Week 2 tilt, riding a high after the surprising Week 1 upset in Cincinnati. They walked away admitting the team needs to improve on all sides of the ball if it wants to compete with NFL’s elite.

Swansea resident Michael Donais has been a season ticket holder for 27 years, witnessing all the glory days of the legendary Bill Belichick and Tom Brady combo. He pointed to weaknesses that killed the team Sunday: Jacoby Brissett’s passing and the defense not keeping pace with Seattle’s receivers.

“I don’t think it was a fluke,” Donais told the Herald on the field for post-game festivities. “They just didn’t put it together today. The defense, (Seattle’s) receivers were open too many times. They never fixed it all game.”

The tailgating scene returned up and down Route 1, with fans packing the lots around the stadium, grilling chicken, steak, and the like while boozing and rocking team apparel.

Even with the home-opening loss, New England’s massive upset in Cincinnati has swung the demeanor around the team from fans expecting another lousy season in Foxboro to a sense of optimism for the road ahead.

Superfan Brian Babz called it tough to see another loss at home, especially in overtime, and said Thursday’s Week 3 Thursday Night Football matchup in New York is a “must win.”

“What made me excited is that this team is fighting hard,” he told the Herald.  “I love that every game matters. There are no give-me’s, edge of your seat every single drive. It’s going to be like that Thursday.”

Gerry McCarthy, of Sandwich, has been a season ticket holder since 1980 and serves as a key voice to the “Tailgater 2000.”

The pregame party, in the middle of a parking lot across the road from Patriot Place, features it all: A bus filled with Patriots merchandise and a TV, trays of grilled chicken, steak, shrimp, and other goodies, a live band and yard games.

During the tailgate, McCarthy offers a prayer – a poem he writes as a pep rally — that draws a couple hundred spectators.

“If our young receivers can make a few plays, we might just be headed towards happier days,” read a part of McCarthy’s prayer Sunday.

Rookie receiver Ja’Lynn Polk followed through, catching the first touchdown of his career in the first quarter as the Patriots took a 7-0 lead before Seattle answered back two minutes later.

“Last week was promising, it was one game,” McCarthy said at the scene of the tailgate. “Temper your emotions, and let’s go forward. I want to win, but if we play a game where we’re very competitive and lose 28-27, and we were in that game right until the last play, that’s positive for me because we can build on that.”

Michael Young, of East Falmouth, has organized the Tailgater 2000 since the 1998 season. Young called himself a big fan of Mayo since New England drafted the linebacker out of Tennessee with the tenth pick in the 2008 Draft.

“Everything he’s done, even out of the football world and in the financial world, he has been successful,” Young said of Mayo. “We are willing to give him a chance, and so far, so good.”

Leanne Signoriello from Cape Cod said she’s the “second generation” of the Tailgater 2000, with her dad being part of the original group that started hosting it.

“Everyone is excited,” she said. “Even in years past when we have a loss, we all still come back and have a great time. It’s great energy.”

Gillette honored the 10th anniversary of the Patriots team that beat Seattle XLIX in 2015, with Malcolm Butler, Rob Ninkovich and other players on hand.

“I respect the move, I get it,” Adam Emmert, a Seahawks fan who flew out from Phillipsburg, Mont., said of the anniversary celebration. “It’s good trolling by the Patriots, but at the end of the day, it’s a decade ago, and the thing that I feel best about is that we are much closer to a championship than you guys.”

Patriots super fan Brian Babz takes in the scene of a bus filled with team merchandise. (Lance Reynolds/Boston Herald)