Third up on our 2021 NFL season previews in the AFC East is the New England Patriots.
For the first time since the departure of Tom Brady, there is hope once again in Foxborough.
Bill Belichick dedicated the offseason to retool the Pats' roster, making big-time free agent acquisition after another. Jonnu Smith, Hunter Henry, Nelson Agholor, and Kendrick Bourne on offense, and Matt Judon and Kyle Van Noy on defense.
Bringing back Trent Brown is huge for the O-line after losing Joe Thuney to the Chiefs and with Mike Onwenu switching to left guard. Dont'a Hightower is coming back this season after a COVID opt-out is huge as well.
The Pats' draft class is impressive too, highlighted with the selections of Mac Jones and Christian Barmore.
However, Stephon Gilmore's holdout is a concern. He has one year left on his five-year, $65 million deal he signed with the Pats before the 2017 season. He is due a base salary of $7M.
While he and JC Jackson highlight a solid outside cornerback tandem, the bigger question is who will start at quarterback. Will it be Cam Newton, who has struggled after contracting COVID last season, or will it be Mac Jones, who is set up as the team's future QB?
Schedule
Week 1: vs. Miami Dolphins
Sunday, September 12, 4:25 PM on CBS
The Dolphins overcame their demons in the final game of the 2019 season, where they won 27-24 and forced the Patriots to play in the Wild Card round that year. These matchups between the Pats and Fins are going to be a great rivalry. Yes, the Fins are a team that is on the rise in the NFL, but don't bet against Bill Belichick and the Pats at home. A season-opening victory means that the Pats would win 11 of their last 12 home games against the Fins.
Week 1 score: Patriots 20, Dolphins 17
Week 2: @ New York Jets
Sunday, September 19, 1:00 PM on CBS
One day, we might see Zach Wilson give Bill Belichick the final push to retirement or make him wish he had an athletic quarterback. But for all the promising talent that Wilson brings to the Jets, he should treat this game as a rough "Welcome to the NFL" moment. Multiple turnovers would be involved, which can pave way for a Pats win.
Week 2 score: Patriots 24, Jets 13
Week 3: vs. New Orleans Saints
Sunday, September 26, 1:00 PM on FOX
It feels weird seeing a Patriots vs. Saints game without Tom Brady and Drew Brees. Speaking of that, this will be the first time this happens since 2005. The Pats are back on the rise and went on a free agency spending spree, while the Saints had to cut several impact players because they were $100M over the cap heading into the offseason. Stephon Gilmore will shadow over Michael Thomas, Belichick will crowd the box to limit Alvin Kamara, and that should wrap it up for here.
Week 3 score: Patriots 17, Saints 10
Week 4: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (SNF)
Sunday, October 3, 8:20 PM on NBC
You can just imagine the ticket prices soaring for this game, because Patriots fans are going to watch Tom Brady's return to Gillette Stadium. This game falls into the tier of "must-watch games", so it's straightforward on why this game would be an easy pick for primetime television. Belichick will throw in some new schemes on his former quarterback, but the Bucs are far more talented for this game to even be close.
Week 4 score: Buccaneers 27, Patriots 10
Week 5: @ Houston Texans
Sunday, October 10, 1:00 PM on CBS
The Texans might win as many games in the next two seasons as the Patriots did last season. They're even worse than just disastrous, and a rebuild for them is going to take a Herculean effort. The Pats have a top 10 defense, and this game will make Texans fans reminisce about the glory days.
Week 5 score: Patriots 31, Texans 0
Week 6: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Sunday, October 17, 4:25 PM on CBS
Despite this game not being the game of CBS's dreams anymore, this Patriots vs. Cowboys match is still must-watch. The Pats' strength is their defense, specifically their secondary, which matches up against the Cowboys' offense. With the Pats at home, their defense should hold up against a solid Cowboys offense. However, this game also depends on the quarterback. Dak Prescott is a top 10 QB, while the Pats have question marks around their two QBs. It could go either way here, but in my opinion, this game will come down to whose quarterbacking play is better.
Week 6 score: Cowboys 26, Patriots 20 (OT)
Week 7: vs. New York Jets
Sunday, October 24, 1:00 PM on CBS
The fact that the Patriots are facing Zach Wilson twice within the first two months of this season should give them a sigh of relief. It takes time for rookies to adjust to the NFL, especially when it comes to Wilson making the jump from BYU to the NFL. Expect the Pats defense to drive the pace of this game.
Week 7 score: Patriots 20, Jets 18
Week 8: @ Los Angeles Chargers
Sunday, October 31, 4:05 PM on CBS
The Chargers are a team on the rise, there's no doubt about that. If you're the Patriots, traveling across the country to California is a hard challenge to overcome, and while the Pats can be prepared for it, the effects of cross-country travel added to the fact that a matchup against Justin Herbert and a good Chargers defense could result in a close game, but unfortunately, it's just not enough for the Pats as the Chargers pull away with a game-sealing touchdown.
Week 8 score: Chargers 28, Patriots 17
Week 9: @ Carolina Panthers
Sunday, November 7, 1:00 PM on CBS
The Panthers banked in on a quarterback this offseason. Unfortunately for them, it's not Deshaun Watson, Aaron Rodgers, Matt Stafford, or Justin Fields. It's Sam Darnold, a quarterback that the Patriots know very well of by this point. That means the Pats will get into his head with all that defensive pressure, yet it's going to be close regardless of who the Pats have at QB.
Week 9 score: Patriots 24, Panthers 20
Week 10: vs. Cleveland Browns
Sunday, November 14, 1:00 PM on CBS
This is when the schedule for the Patriots starts to not go towards their favor. While the Pats have outscored the Browns 60-26 in their previous two meetings, there is no Tom Brady to lead the Pats this time around. While they are in a better position this season than they were last season, the Browns are two steps ahead of them as they have one of the best teams in the NFL. Even when they are at Gillette Stadium, the Browns will show why they are the superior team.
Week 10 score: Browns 31, Patriots 14
Week 11: @ Atlanta Falcons (TNF)
Thursday, November 18, 8:20 PM on FOX
In just their second game since Super Bowl LI, both teams find themselves in crucial points as organizations. Although the Falcons lost Julio Jones, they will still be competitive this year, but a rebuild is inevitable by this point and this season for them is about final memories. The Pats went through a rough year, but this game will all come down to who makes the final stop defensively. Cue the 28-3 memes, everyone.
Week 11 score: Patriots 34, Falcons 31
Week 12: vs. Tennessee Titans
Sunday, November 28, 1:00 PM on CBS
The key to stopping the Titans is to stop Derrick Henry. Keeping him under the 100-yard mark should do the trick. The Titans still have a solid pass attack, but this match is more favorable towards the Pats, because 1) They are playing at home, 2) They are coming off a long rest after the Thursday game against the Falcons, 3) They boast a superior defense, and 4) The Titans have struggled in recent years going after the QB despite the addition of Bud Dupree in the offseason.
Week 12 score: Patriots 23, Titans 13
Week 13: @ Buffalo Bills (MNF)
Monday, December 6, 8:15 PM on ESPN
Now that the Patriots have an 8-4 record by this point, it makes this matchup for Monday Night Football even better. However, this is the toughest test for the Pats on their schedule. While they do have time to prepare for this game, the Bills are too talented for the Pats to pull off an upset, with Josh Allen making enough passes to seal a win for the Bills.
Week 13 score: Bills 21, Patriots 16
Week 14: BYE WEEK
Week 15: @ Indianapolis Colts
Either Saturday, December 18 or Sunday, December 19, time and network TBD
The Patriots finally get their bye week in Week 14, but it doesn't do them favors against a Colts team with a loaded front seven. Even so, lots of questions surround both teams. Which version of Carson Wentz will we get? If he plays at the levels that he did when Frank Reich was his offensive coordinator with the Eagles, the Colts will be much tougher to beat. Both teams have solid defenses, but getting past the Colts' O-line is a very tough task itself.
Week 15 score: Colts 27, Patriots 23
Week 16: vs. Buffalo Bills
Sunday, December 26, 1:00 PM on CBS
The Pats defense this season is a better defense from the Pats defense that we saw last season, but getting by one of the best offenses in the NFL is a hard task. Plus, the Bills are likely fighting for a playoff spot by this point, so they won't take this game lightly. The Bills have all the tools necessary to take control of this game, and with the Pats' passing attack not able to keep up, the Bills successfully defend the AFC East.
Week 16 score: Bills 28, Patriots 22
Week 17: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Sunday, January 2, 1:00 PM on CBS
There are going to be promising moments in Trevor Lawrence's young career. This is not one of them. Even though he may be one of the most polished quarterbacks coming out of college, Bill Belichick feasts on rookie quarterbacks. This is going to continue as the Pats send out the pass rushers to get past the Jaguars' O-line and have their strong secondary take care of the receivers. The Jags don't have a clear-cut contender built around their new franchise quarterback just yet. It'll take time.
Week 17 score: Patriots 27, Jaguars 17
Week 18: @ Miami Dolphins
Sunday, January 9, 1:00 PM on CBS
There's a lot of hype around the Dolphins, and for good reason. If Tua Tagovailoa takes the next step, this becomes a perennial playoff team. It takes time for that, which is why the Dolphins could lose the first of two meetings against the Patriots this season. The Fins have already secured a playoff spot, but they have decided not to rest their starters to get a better seed. Closing the season out in Miami, the Fins beat the Pats and get no higher than the AFC's 5th seed.
Week 18 score: Dolphins 26, Patriots 24
Final Record Prediction: 9-8
Projected Starters
Offense
QB: Cam Newton/Mac Jones
RB: Damien Harris
WR: Jakobi Meyers, Nelson Agholor, Kendrick Bourne
TE: Hunter Henry/Jonnu Smith
OL: Isaiah Wynn (LT), Mike Onwenu (LG), David Andrews (C), Shaq Mason (RG), Trent Brown (RT)
Defense
DL: Lawrence Guy (LE), Davon Godchaux (NT), Henry Anderson (RE)
EDGE: Matt Judon (WLB), Kyle Van Noy (SLB)
ILB: Ja'Whaun Bentley (LILB), Dont'a Hightower (RILB)
CB: JC Jackson (LCB), Stephon Gilmore (RCB)
S: Adrian Phillips (SS), Devin McCourty (FS)
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