WEEK 1 vs. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
I laughed when I saw that this was the first matchup because I honestly thought Tom Brady might broadcast this game, but I saw it was not going to happen for two reasons. The main one is that it is on CBS, not FOX. Even if it was, Brady is a minority owner of the Raiders, so he would not be allowed to be on the call. However, I do think that this will be a very interesting game to watch. Geno Smith and Pete Carroll are back together, which means the two are probably not going to win less than seven games this season. Actually, if you look at the rest of their roster, it feels like watching the Seahawks in an entirely different conference, but there are a few modifications. The Raiders drafted the Heisman winning running back Ashton Jeanty with their first round pick, which was a huge need because this team has not had a powerful player at that position since Josh Jacobs. However, the passing game still gives me some questions. They might have Brock Bowers, one of the more generational tight ends in the league, but the wide receiver room is lackluster. I like Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker, but they are not quality number one options, so maybe Jack Bech will jump onto the radar and surprise us out of nowhere. Their offensive line is also a pretty substandard unit that allowed the eighth most sacks in the league, so I do not think that signing Alex Cappa in free agency did not make them a better unit. Nor does hiring Chip Kelly as your offensive coordinator! It was an issue when Pete Carroll was in Seattle and I am scared it is going to linger again in Sin City.
If there is one thing that I hope Carroll does well with this team, it is make sure the defense is not set back a decade. You have an unstoppable menace in Maxx Crosby, but the rest of the supporting cast is just average at best. Christian Wilkins is coming back from injury, Tyree Wilson has not lived up to the first round hype, and they did not do enough to address the linebacking room after Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo left in free agency. I think Germaine Pratt is a solid tackler, but there is not too much depth at his position. The other three veterans in that group are Elandon Roberts, Devin White, and Jaylon Smith. The one thing that all of them have in common is that they have not been good in three to five years. Hopefully there is a younger player that could surprise us out of nowhere, but I truly do not know who that will be right now. The secondary also lost some key pieces like Tre’von Moehrig and Nate Hobbs, but I honestly like the guys that will take their place. I have always been a fan of Jeremy Chinn, and I believe that both Isaiah Pola-Mao and Jakorian Bennett took big leaps in 2024. I do not expect it to be a great unit, but I think they can be pretty good against certain foes.
This game could honestly go either way in my opinion, but there are a couple of reasons why I think the Raiders can pull off an upset on the road. The first is that Pete Carroll has not lost to the Patriots in the regular season since 1994 when he was one-and-done with the New York Jets. The second is that New England struggled to beat this team in the last two years, and that was ironically with Josh McDaniels as the head coach. I would not be shocked if the Patriots won this game at home, but I think that the Raiders are going to prove that they can shock some people this year.
WEEK 2 @ MIAMI DOLPHINS
This is probably the easiest loss I could give the Patriots this year because traveling to Miami for a football game is the definition of kryptonite for this football team. It is hard to be disappointed when it is a tradition going back to the days of Bill Belichick and even Raymond Berry! Even then, this should be the most confident that New England should be putting it to an end. The Dolphins should be a championship contender on paper, but their self-inflicted failures over the past few years make them look nothing more than a mediocre pretender. Tua Tagovailoa has proven to be a solid NFL quarterback, but his health has always been the biggest X factor for this football team, and the team plummets when he is not on the field. It should not be the case because this offense has a boatload of speed and talent. De’Von Achane has emerged as the starting running back and Jaylen Wright is hoping to break out in his sophomore season. The top two receiving options are Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, they just signed Nick Westbrook-Ikhine to give this offense more verticality, and Jonnu Smith surprised a lot of people with a productive 2024 season. The only real liability that this group has is their offensive line. Terron Armstead retired, the interior is a mess, and Austin Jackson is the only consistent veteran they have. Hopefully, their second round pick Jonah Savaiinaea turns into a solid player, but center Aaron Brewer and left tackle Larry Borom should not be full time starters at the most important positions on the front five.
The Dolphins better hope that they do not suffer any injuries with their offense, or else that defense is going to get eaten alive, especially since Jalen Ramsey might be traded before the season begins. It is a unit that has a likable coordinator in Anthony Weaver Jr. and promising young pieces like Chop Robinson, Tyrel Dodson, and rookie Kenneth Grant. Yet, I don’t see any depth whatsoever. Jevon Holland left in free agency, Kendall Fuller and Nik Needham were released, Jordan Poyer was not brought back, and Calais Campbell left to go back to Arizona for what might be his last season. Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips cannot stay healthy, Zach Sieler is nearing thirty years old at an extremely physical position, and Miami has nobody else in their secondary that has been a proven shutdown defender. Kader Kohou is probably the closest one, but he is mainly a nickel corner, so there is nobody on the outside I can think of that can step up in a big way.
Tua has not lost a game to the Patriots in his entire NFL career, so as much as I am hoping for Vrabel to be the guy that hands over the first defeat, I do not see it happening just yet. Ask me again when they play each other in Gillette Stadium.
WEEK 3 vs. PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Even though it would not be impossible to see the Patriots get off to an 0-2 start, I do believe they can get back on track with a home victory over the Steelers. Aaron Rodgers has not won a game in Gillette Stadium in his career and what is even more important is that New England is not exactly the team that Mike Tomlin has the best success against. However, it is not like Pittsburgh has a terrible team. Najee Harris is gone, but Jaylen Warren has always been a huge focal point of this offense, and I think rookie Kaleb Johnson could mold in well with Arthur Smith’s system. George Pickens got traded, yet DK Metcalf is always a receiver that any quarterback would love to have. Hopefully, he shows more consistency in his play because he is incredibly athletic and physical, but you do not see it as often as you would hope. Pat Freiermuth is always a serviceable security blanket, Calvin Austin shows plenty of flashes with his speed, and Roman Wilson is trying to bounce back after an injury-riddled rookie year. However, the offensive line brings up a lot of concerns as they allowed the ninth most sacks in the NFL. Dan Moore Jr. left in free agency, which will make Troy Fautanu and Broderick Jones the two startling tackles for the season, so let’s see if that is a move that will pay off over time.
Whether the Steelers make the playoffs or not, I seriously doubt that defense is going to regress. That is if TJ Watt clears up whatever issues he might have with the front office. Otherwise, they are screwed. As much as I love guys like Alex Highsmith and Cam Heyward, they will not have a pass rush without the former Defensive Player of the Year. We can only hope that rookie Derrick Harmon can have an instant impact on that line because that would be absolutely critical. The linebacking room is a deep one per usual, and I think it will get even stronger with Jack Sawyer as a late draft addition, but I hope they do not wear down like they did last year before. As for the secondary, it is also a well respected group that just got stronger. Darius Slay might not be the corner that he was in his prime but he can still play at a high level and complement a shutdown beast in Joey Porter Jr. The same goes with safety Juan Thornhill to help out Minkah Fitzpatrick. They will be the biggest reason why this Steelers team is competitive, but if their offense is near the bottom of the dumpster, then it is going to be an exhausted group as the season progresses.
Of all the home games that the Patriots have this year, this is the one where I feel the most confident with winning. It will not be a cakewalk because the Steelers have always been a respected team, but New England always seems to have the upper hand, regardless of how good or bad they are.
WEEK 4 vs. CAROLINA PANTHERS
On the surface, if you are a Patriots fan, the fourth game of the year looks like the easiest win they might have on their schedule. However, the Carolina Panthers are a team that I have a surprising amount of hope for this year. After seeing his career nearly get destroyed to begin the 2024 season, Panthers quarterback Bryce Young completely rebounded down the stretch and is now a sign of optimism rather than the biggest liability. Head coach Dave Canales and general manager Dan Morgan are hoping that he and the rest of this offense can pick up where they left off, because they showed more positive flashes than they did in the last five years. Chuba Hubbard emerged as one of the best running backs in the league and he will have a nice right hand man in Rico Dowdle to step in when needed. Adam Thielen is not getting any younger, but that is a reason why Carolina used their first round pick to draft Tet McMillian, who will join a receiving corps featuring Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker. They also have a rising tight end in Ja’Tavion Sanders that will be seeking more opportunities, along with an offensive line that only let up thirty-six sacks. I do not think they will be a top ten unit right away, but if Carolina continues to head into the right direction, then they can absolutely be one of the more efficient offenses in the league.
However, I think the true X factor of this team is their defense, which was a disaster last year. It ranked dead last in total yards, passing, and points. They had the fourth fewest sacks and totaled nine interceptions, with a lot of it attributed to guys like Derrick Brown and Shaq Thompson missing the entire season. Brown will be returning, along with highly touted cornerback Jaycee Horn, but I do not think that this unit got drastically better. I like Tershawn Wharton, Christian Rozeboom, Tre’von Moehrig, and Pat Jones II. I think those are highly respected players that will be beneficial to this group. Yet, are those three really going to move the needle? Their leading tackle Xavier Woods is gone, Josey Jewell was okay, and neither Jadeveon Clowney nor DJ Wonnum made a difference on the defensive line. We knew that defensive coordinator Ejero Evero was going to have his hands full, but I seriously cannot tell if this group will overachieve or not. As much as I want them to, this team does not have the right personnel to do that at the moment, unless their offense turns back the clock a decade and starts ripping everyone’s hearts out.
I think that because the Patriots are home, they will have a better advantage and make just a few more plays to hold on for the win. However, if Carolina truly picks up where they left off in the second half of the year, then I am worried that we might get another road upset because the Panthers are another team that is trying to become a relevant franchise again.
WEEK 5 @ BUFFALO BILLS
One strange thing that I have noticed is that the Patriots have lost five of their last seven games on Sunday Night Football. Now that they have to take on Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills in his house, I fear that New England is going to make it a sixth loss, regardless of the final score. If it were not for Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, Allen might actually have at least one Super Bowl ring to wear, but that has been the only knock on his tenure with the Bills. The supporting cast around him is pretty good, but it is the quarterback that has lifted them to a higher tier. The only true star that they have is running back James Cook, but he is currently unhappy with his current contract, and there is a strong chance that he could hold out for a new one. On the other hand, I have faith that Ray Davis could elevate his game and Ty Johnson has served as a quality third down back. Their receiving room is not as average as it was last year. Keon Coleman has the potential to be a promising number one receiver, but we need to see more from him to truly believe it will happen. I have always liked Khalil Shakir in the slot, and I think both Josh Palmer and Elijah Moore could put up decent numbers as depth pieces. On paper, the Bills have a formidable tight end duo of Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox, but their numbers from last year do not indicate that. What masks this flaw is their offensive line, which gave up the fewest sacks in the league. As long as they have Josh Allen fully healthy, then this team is going to be favored to win the division and be a perennial championship contender.
Unfortunately, Sean McDermott’s defenses have not held his end of the bargain of trying to deliver a championship to the city of Buffalo. Their defensive line has household names like Greg Rousseau and Ed Oliver, but they were just okay last season. I don’t really know if bringing in Michael Hoecht or Joey Bosa is going to make them a whole lot better, but my guess is that Buffalo is banking on AJ Epenesa and Javon Solomon to take big leaps. I think one of the biggest reasons why the Bills defense has not been as feared over the last couple of seasons is because both Matt Milano and Terrel Bernard had to deal with long-term injuries, thus affecting their run defense and the strength of the entire unit as a whole. It is no wonder why this secondary is on its heels every day, but even they have their limits. It looks like Christian Benford will be their number one corner after receiving a long-term extension, but I need to see more from him to truly believe he has what it takes. They brought back Tre’Davious White and Dane Jackson, yet they are not the same players that they were in 2021. If you had to ask me who would start alongside Benford, it would be Cam Lewis and Taron Johnson, with Damar Hamlin and Taylor Rapp manning the safety positions. That will allow rookie Maxwell Hairston to sit back and learn, rather than be thrusted into the fire and rush his developmental process.
Last year, New England had a chance to surprisingly beat the Bills twice, but self-inflicted mistakes cost them the first matchup in Highmark Stadium and the win in the regular season finale was because Buffalo played their backups. As much as I would love to see an upset, especially now that Stefon Diggs will have a chance to get some revenge, the Bills have bigger aspirations and are expected to win, while the Patriots are a team that has a few “ifs” that need to be answered.
WEEK 6 @ NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
In the last two matchups between these two teams, the Patriots have not only lost to the Saints at home, but got absolutely annihilated both times. However, this has to be the year where New England finally proves that they are superior. I feel bad that this is the first head coaching job for Kellen Moore because on a team with no cap flexibility, an aging roster, and no plan at quarterback, this is the worst situation he could have asked for. Everything was put on halt when Derek Carr retired, so now there are three guys competing for the starting job: Spencer Rattler, Jake Haener, and rookie Tyler Shough. I wish I could say that at least there are the Pelicans, but that team is on the verge of blowing it up. The only silver lining I have is that at least the Saints offense will be healthy. Alvin Kamara had a bounce back season with close to 1500 total yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns. Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed will more than likely be the two biggest targets for whichever quarterback throws them the ball, along with tight ends Juwan Johnson and Taysom Hill. Brandin Cooks is even coming back, so there is some nostalgia there. The offensive line is not completely horrible either and it got better with Kelvin Banks Jr. replacing Ryan Ramczyck at right tackle. The only issue is that once everybody got hurt, the entire offense plummeted, and it is one of the biggest reasons why the Saints had a dismal five win season.
As for the defense, how do I put this? They have zero depth and they are incredibly old. When you do look at the younger guys in this group, they are either inconsistent or inexperienced. They already lost their top two corners in Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adebo, their only two good pass rushers are Bryan Bresee and Carl Granderson, we don’t know what to expect from Chase Young, and Demario Davis can only do so much at thirty-six years old. At least they signed Justin Reid to reunite with his former Texans teammate Tyrann Mathieu, but with Brandon Staley as the defensive coordinator, my hopes are not that high for this group.
Knowing the Patriots, I would not be surprised at all if this was another gut-wrenching upset, but I am just hoping that we do not get one. New England finally has a promising roster for the first time in the years and the Saints are in a very futile state, so the last thing I want is a trap game in the Superdome.
WEEK 7 @ TENNESSEE TITANS
Do you remember where you were when Drake Maye made one of the biggest highlight plays of the season, scrambling in and out of the pocket for what felt like ten seconds, throwing the game-tying touchdown pass to Rhamondre Stevenson that forced overtime? It is too bad that New England lost that game, but now that Mike Vrabel has a chance to get some justice against the team that fired him over two years ago, I believe that this game is going to be a beatdown. The Titans had the worst record in the league last season and clinched the first overall pick, which they used to select quarterback Cam Ward. I loved watching him when he was at Miami, but head coach Brian Callahan is going to throw this kid into the fire early, and I honestly cannot determine how he will perform. The pieces around him are not terrible, but then again, they only won three games with essentially the same supporting cast around him. You have Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears manning the backfield, Calvin Ridley and Tyler Lockett as your expected top receiving targets, and an offensive line that honestly did not improve over the offseason. I have hopes for rookies Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Deke, but I still cannot understand why new general manager Mike Borgonzi gave Dan Moore Jr. $50 million guaranteed to be their starting left tackle.
As for the defense, it really gave us a bunch of mixed signs every week. They were the second best group in yards allowed, yet were the third worst in points surrendered. All of the veterans that they acquired that offseason were let go before the 2024 season could even conclude, and a couple more might join them if they implode once again. Harold Landry was released, Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs were cut in the middle of the year, and Ernest Jones was traded. Hopefully, things do not head in the opposite direction once again because they have solid guys in their group. Jeffery Simmons, Arden Key, and T’Vondre Sweat held their own on the front four. Cody Barton and Dre’Mont Jones were brought in from Denver to help pick up the slack. L’Jarius Sneed is trying to return to form and will have guys like Amani Hooker and Jarvis Brownlee Jr. to step up on their end.
The only way I can see the Titans having a chance of winning is if every single thing goes right for them. However, the Patriots are in a way better state with a more hopeful future, so my guess is that Mike Vrabel is going to make sure that his players do not take their foot off the gas for one single second.
WEEK 8 vs. CLEVELAND BROWNS
This is another home game that I feel the Patriots should win handedly for a couple of reasons. The first is that New England has historically had their way with the Cleveland Browns at home, and I feel that trend could continue. The second is a more obvious one: Cleveland does not have a surefire starter at quarterback. They might have drafted Dillon Gabriel AND Shadeur Sanders, but if the only veteran backups are Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett, then that is not the best considering that Deshaun Watson suffered two torn Achilles injuries. It doesn’t help that Nick Chubb is no longer on the roster, despite the fact that he was a shell of himself trying to come back from that knee injury, and then later suffered a broken foot late in the 2024 season. The good news is that Cleveland made sure to draft not one but TWO future running backs to their core! I’m curious to see which one will be the lead between Qunshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson, because if I’m being quite honest, I don’t know what role Jerome Ford is going to carve out in this offense. In the passing game, the two main focal points will most likely be Jerry Jeudy and David Njoku, but there need to be more than a few guys that will have to step up. Cedric Tillman, David Bell, and Diontae Johnson are the more notable examples. However, that offensive line really took a huge slide as it allowed the second most sacks in the league. Even with the addition of Teven Jenkins, I do not know if we are going to see any improvement, unless one of these four quarterbacks completely stun us and somehow lift this team to the playoffs.
Their defense is not void of blame because after a dominant 2023 season, they saw signs of regression as well. A lot of it happened to do with the setbacks of the offense, but Myles Garrett was quite possibly the only player showing any form of consistency. One of the boldest moves they made in regards to that defense was to trade down three spots from the second overall pick and select Mason Graham out of Michigan, while receiving a significant package that includes a future first. Jacksonville might have been the lucky ones to select Travis Hunter, but if Graham turns into a successful player, then Cleveland will have little regrets. The rest of their defensive line has a bunch of rotational pieces that can make solid contributions, but the linebacking corps took a hit with Jeremiah Owusu-Koromoah ruled out for the season due to a neck injury. Even though they signed Jerome Baker and kept guys like Devin Bush and Jordan Hicks around, the Browns are going to have an average run defense at best. I cannot say anything different for the secondary, because although Denzel Ward and Grant Delpit are absolute studs, the rest of the group could not follow the way. Martin Emerson and Greg Newsome have been massive disappointments, Rayshawn Jenkins is just an okay safety, and it didn’t help that Juan Thornhill left in free agency. Jim Schwartz is one of the smartest defensive minds in the game, but after that dip of a performance last year, who knows which direction they will take this season?
This is another game that is difficult for me to fully evaluate because you do not know who is starting for Cleveland nor do you know how effective or ineffective they will be this season. For that alone, I believe that New England should not even make this a close contest.
WEEK 9 vs. ATLANTA FALCONS
I wish that Matt Judon was still with Atlanta so that New England could give him a tribute video to say “thank you”, but his appearance on the defensive line would probably not change the outcome. I have to say that I had a difficult time predicting the winner because the Falcons are a team that should be solid this year. The key word is “should!” Any time you think they finally have a chance to turn the corner, they find any way possible to implode. Now that Michael Penix has the full keys to the offense, one of two things is going to happen. Either he surges like Lamar Jackson did in his sophomore year and carries the team to relevance, or the flaws keep rearing their ugly heads as they walk into another mediocre season. As I said, this is a team that has plenty of talent to get over the hump. Bijan Robinson is easily one of the top five running backs in all of football and Drake London broke through in his third year with over 1200 receiving yards. However, for this offense to truly rise up the charts, they need Kyle Pitts to get back on the map. After his rookie season, he was expected to be a huge focal point of the offense. Then all of a sudden, his play diminished and he has been in a lot of trade rumors. At some point in time, the quarterback cannot be the scapegoat for this anymore, so it will be really interesting to see how Pitts performs in 2025. Let’s not forget that Darnell Mooney fell eight yards short of a thousand last season and Ray-Ray McCloud set career highs in targets, catches, and yards! I don’t have a lot of concerns for the offensive line, even with the loss of Chris Dalman, because it is a group with proven starters. The Falcons only gave up thirty-two sacks the year before and was considered one of the best run blocking lines in football, so it really comes down to the receivers getting open and Penix being smart with his decision making.
As for the defense, it was really the most disappointing in the league. There is a reason why they did not decide to bring Matthew Judon or Justin Simmons back after signing them to prove-it deals for one year. They also knew that they could not keep Grady Jarrett around much longer because after the extension he received in 2019, he never totaled more than six sacks in a season. The good news was that Atlanta had two first round picks and decided to boost the edge with those selections. They finally made a smart decision and took Jalon Walker with their first pick, but then stunned all of us by trading a future first for James Pearce Jr. That means that head coach Raheem Morris sees them as immediate impactful players to complement Arnold Ebiketie. The rest of their defensive line has proven veterans like Leonard Floyd and David Onyemata, but they are also not getting any younger, so a lot more weight is going to be given to the young guys. They finished with the second fewest sacks in the NFL, so even though that number will get higher this season, I do not see a drastic improvement. I never had an issue with the linebacking room. Kaden Elliss is an extremely versatile linebacker and I have hopes for JD Bertrand, so I think the signing of Divine Deablo can help this group instead of hurt them. But the one position group that I have never been fond of is the secondary. AJ Terrell and Jessie Bates might be All-Pro caliber players, but who do they have to help out? I like Dee Alford, but he had an up-and-down season as he struggled with coverage. Jordan Fuller is a guy that I liked when he was on the Rams, but he tailed off in Carolina and got cut after one year for a reason. Mike Hughes did not do too bad and Atlanta brought him back on a new contract, yet I am worried that last year might have been a blimp in the radar.
I think that if this game were in Atlanta, I could see the Falcons winning. However, they have not won in Gillette Stadium since 1998, when New England was a fringe Wild Card contender and Atlanta made it to the Super Bowl as a 14-2 powerhouse. This season, I expect both teams to compete for a playoff spot, but I think the Patriots have a better chance of doing that given the amount of firepower they have on their roster compared to the opposition.
WEEK 10 @ TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Yes I understand that Baker Mayfield has not beaten the Patriots in his career thus far, yet those losses took place in Gillette Stadium. If the Patriots thought playing in Miami was the definition of hell, then they are not going to expect that much different at Raymond James Stadium, especially since the Buccaneers are just as much of a formidable team with high hopes for a deep playoff push. It began with Tom Brady and Baker Mayfield has done more than his job to make them a respected foe. He might have his third different offensive coordinator in his three years with the team, but I think that as long as the pieces are still there and the system does not change, then it should not be too big of an issue. Bucky Irving emerged as one of the more promising rookie running backs in the league, so any time the passing game does get held in check, then he and Rachaad White can pick up the slack. Say it is the other way around, then you have Mike Evans to worry about, somebody that is essentially guaranteed to total a thousand yards in a season. Chris Godwin is coming back, Jalen McMillan showed tremendous promise as a rookie, and Tampa drafted Emeka Egbuka to round out the receiving room. Their offensive line is also a well-rounded unit that showed improvement towards the second half of the season, but based on Mayfield’s style of play, it is a unit that might give up more sacks than you would like.
My only real concern with the Buccaneers is their defense, which should not be the case with Todd Bowles as the head coach. If you ask me, it is an average unit with a few key stars, but not much else. They have a beast in Vita Vea anchoring the pass rush, Lavonte David still playing at a high level at middle linebacker, and one of the best safeties in the league in Antoine Winfield Jr. However, they allowed the fourth most passing yards out of any other team and their secondary only totaled seven interceptions. I understand that Tampa drafted two corners with their mid-round picks and signed Haason Reddick in free agency, but I don’t believe that those additions moved the needle with this group. Although they have guys they can show up in spurts, Tampa does not have a lot of players that are difference makers, and that is critical if they want to make a deep playoff run.
This is another game that I wish was televised on FOX so that Tom Brady will have a chance to sit in the broadcasting booth. If this game were in Gillette Stadium, it would be even better. However, I think that home field advantage will be the biggest benefactor for the Bucs and I trust that their offense will have a better rhythm and flow than a Patriots team that usually cannot adjust to the humidity and warm climate.
WEEK 11 vs. NEW YORK JETS
The Patriots will have to quickly shake off that loss as they will head back home to take on the Jets on Thursday Night Football, but the history between these two teams has been one-sided. New York has managed to split the series the last two years, so I will not be surprised if it happens again, but they are once again in a rebuilding phase. Shocking, I know. With Aaron Glenn at head coach and Darren Mougey as the new general manager, New York is hoping that this tandem will finally be the one that will get this franchise back on the map. It might not be immediate, but if things continue to improve, then there is no doubt that the future is bright for this football team. The biggest X factor is their quarterback Justin Fields. It is nice to see the Jets not reach for a veteran or desperately draft somebody in the first round because a minimum deal for a fringe starter is not a bad option. We know what we are getting from Fields week to week: he will not completely embarrass himself, he will show you tremendous flashes with his legs and his arm, but he will not be a guy that will take you to a Super Bowl. Maybe new offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand will unlock something that Fields’ previous coaches could not, but the biggest knock on the quarterback’s career is that he has never been able to maximize his potential. Fortunately, there are more than a few promising pieces around him that could scratch the surface. Breece Hall and Braelon Allen are a legitimate running back tandem that bring acceleration and power, Garrett Wilson is poised for a breakout year with a former Buckeye throwing him the ball, but the big question is figuring out who will step next in line. It could be Allen Lazard, it might be Malachi Corley. Heck, maybe rookies Arian Smith and Mason Taylor could leapfrog their way onto the depth chart. Their offensive line had an okay season last year, but maybe with Fields under center, they can improve their production. The Jets used their first round pick in the draft to select the best right tackle prospect Armond Membou to complement Olu Fashanu. They are banking on Joe Tippmann to solidify himself as the starting center, with John Simpson and Alijah Vera-Tucker to his left and right.
With Glenn taking over as the head coach, the hope is that the defense can have a better season than the up-and-down roller coaster they were on last season. That is what happens when Robert Saleh gets scapegoated in the middle of the season. Fortunately for Glenn, he has a hell of a group to work with. On the defensive line, Quinnen Williams has still proven to be one of the best defensive tackles in the league and they have an absolute stud in edge rusher Will McDonald that is coming off of a breakout season. With Jermaine Johnson coming back from a season ending injury, the hope is that this defensive line can regain the grit and tenacity that they lacked in the second half of the season. Their run defense was the team’s biggest weakness over the last few seasons, but Glenn is hoping to fix that with Jamien Sherwood and Quincy Williams. However, the group that was really disappointing last season was their secondary. Sauce Gardner is coming off an up-and-down year, Michael Carter II had injuries hold him back, and the team just lost DJ Reed and Ashtyn Davis in free agency. I do not like the signing of Brandon Stephens since he was considered the weak link in Baltimore, so it looks like some of their younger prospects will have to step up quickly. At least their safety group looks solidified with rookie Malachi Moore and rising stud Tony Adams. If Andre Cisco can bounce back from last year, it will be even better.
I still remember the last time Justin Fields was in Gillette Stadium, when the Bears demolished the Patriots 33-14 on Monday Night Football in 2022, so I hope that deja vu does not take place on a similar stage. However, that was when there was that “quarterback controversy” between Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe, so the fact that New England does not have to worry about that anymore should give fans a sigh of relief. I think that the Patriots will find a way to get it done at home, but this is not going to be a typical cakewalk.
WEEK 12 @ CINCINNATI BENGALS
I know that a lot of outside NFL fans are going to call me delusional because the Bengals have a way better quarterback. That might be true, but does Cincinnati have the better team? They might have a more explosive offense, yet their defense is the biggest question mark. Let’s start with the former. As long as their offense is fully healthy, this team will be a playoff contender. Even though they missed the playoffs, Joe Burrow threw forty-three touchdowns to just nine interceptions and Ja’Marr Chase was the Triple Crown winner. How many teams can they say they have playmakers like those two? Not to mention that Tee Higgins signed a contract extension to make him the highest paid number two option in football, so Cincinnati’s “Big Three” will be in the Jungle for years to come. But let’s not dismiss some of their other playmakers. Chase Brown stood out with 1000 yards from scrimmage in his sophomore year and is poised for a breakout season, Mike Gesicki signed a small extension to remain the security blanket, and Andrei Iosivas is a stud on the rise as he continues to develop upwards. Hopefully, Jermaine Burton shakes off a dismal rookie season, because the talent he showed in college was truly too good to waste. Yet, the one weak link that always leaves me cautious about this team is their offensive line. Cutting Alex Cappa was a start, but I don’t know if it truly fixed everything. They allowed forty-eight sacks the season before, so even though they have a boatload of talent on the offensive side of the ball, it might be another wasted season if Burrow cannot stay in the pocket.
We all know what is going to hold the Bengals back from making the playoffs and that is their defense. Sure, they let go of Lou Anarumo and replaced him with Al Golden. But that side of the ball still has so many flaws and weaknesses. For starters, not only is Trey Hendrickson holding out for a new deal, but so is their first round pick Shemar Stewart! Cincinnati already lost Sam Hubbard due to retirement, so if they lose two of the only guys that will keep this defense relevant, then that is just going to give the secondary even more trouble. Cam Taylor-Britt is probably the only notable player on that unit, but he is another player that has been inconsistent throughout his career. Geno Stone has not been the difference maker the Bengals were expecting, even with a late turnaround. Even their run defense was a massive flaw, although Logan Wilson finished 2024 with over 100 tackles. Maybe Oren Burks can stabilize things since he is a solid rotational piece, but you can only ask but so much.
Nobody thought that the Patriots would beat the Bengals in week one last year and yet it actually did, even with the terrible season New England would eventually have. Both offenses are going to put up a lot of points, but the fact that the Patriots have a better defense gives them the edge in this matchup.
WEEK 13 vs. NEW YORK GIANTS
My gut is telling me to pick the Giants because of the history between these two franchises, but both teams are heading into totally different directions. New England is trying to field a more competitive team while New York is in dire straits. They signed Russell Wilson, then traded up for Jaxson Dart in the first round. They have a promising running back in Tyrone Tracy, but drafted Cam Skattebo. Malik Nabers is a stud at wide receiver, but the next best options are Darius Slayton and Wan’Dale Robinson, both inconsistent in their respective positions. At least Andrew Thomas is coming back to stabilize the offensive line, but with the uncertainty at the quarterback position, who knows how many times that group will be set up to fail? One more horrid start and John Mara is cleaning house.
Hopefully, the defense emerges out of the shadows and gives us promising flashes throughout the season. Their pass rush is stacked with the likes of Abdul Carter, Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Dexter Lawrence. They added Chauncey Golston and Roy Robertson-Harris to solidify that front, but the run defense has been underwhelming with Bobby Okereke and Micah McFadden leading the way. What I am really going to pay attention to is their secondary because the Giants made sure to overhaul it in the offseason. They brought in Paulson Adebo to be their number one corner, signed the best safety in free agency in Jevon Holland to man the deep end, and are hoping for breakout seasons from Andru Phillips and Tyler Nubin. Yet, the biggest disappointment in that group has been Deonte Banks, who has not lived up to the first round pedigree he had as he allowed six touchdowns just last season.
If the Patriots lose this game, I will not even be hurt or angry. I would just be numb because the Giants are somehow this team’s boogeyman of the NFC. However, knowing that they are home on Monday Night Football with bigger aspirations, there is no way in hell New England should disappoint their fans again.
WEEK 14: BYE WEEK
WEEK 15 vs. BUFFALO BILLS
Shocking as it might seem to a lot of people, I do not see the Bills sweeping this series. The Patriots managed to beat Buffalo at home in the last two years, and expecting that both teams are going to be legitimate playoff contenders, a split is more than likely to happen.
WEEK 16 @ BALTIMORE RAVENS
This is unfortunately the game where Patriots fans will start to realize that they are not quite in the same tier as the more elite teams in the National Football League. Lamar Jackson is a two time MVP for a reason, and if it were not for a certain Josh Allen fellow, then there is no question that he would have won his third. Besides him, the rest of the team has a boatload of talent that should be a championship contender. Derrick Henry proved that not only is he still the King, but he is easily one of the top two running backs in all of football. What I’ve been more impressed with is how well the Ravens opened up the passing game. Zay Flowers has slowly but surely emerged as a number one option and Rashod Bateman has not done too bad as a number two. But now that DeAndre Hopkins has been added to the mix, Lamar will have more than just Mark Andrews or Isaiah Likely to lean on as a security blanket. The biggest win of their offseason, in my opinion, was bringing back Ronnie Stanley. He turned more money down to stay with Baltimore, so as long as he stays healthy, he will be a huge investment that will pay off. The interior still gives me some concern, but with Lamar under center, it should not be too huge of a liability.
Hopefully this time, the defense will stay consistent all season long, rather than just wait until the second half of the season to show up. The pass rush has really come alive in the last two years, led by Nnamdi Madubuike and Kyle Van Noy, but players like Odafe Oweh and Tavius Robinson have really stepped into the fold in a positive way. The Ravens also drafted Mike Green in the second round, who led the FBS in sacks last year, so it will be interesting to see what type of role he can carve out in Zach Orr’s system. In the second level, there is nothing else to say about Roquan Smith besides the fact that he is the best middle linebacker in the league. Trenton Simpson really stepped up as the right-hand man and those two are why Baltimore allowed the fewest rushing yards in the league. What really stepped up in the second half of the season, though, was their secondary. Marlon Humphrey still proved that he was one of the best cover corners in the league, but with Kyle Hamilton as the deep safety, they exploded and took off. If Jaire Alexander can stay healthy, then this group will be even more lethal, especially since Ar’Darius Washington and Nate Wiggins are expected to have bigger roles. To top it off, I think that the safety room will be better with Malaki Starks jumping on as a first round pick.
I am hoping for this to be a closer game because both rosters stack up well against each other, but the Ravens have the better quarterback, and I think that the Patriots defense is going to have a price to pay if they let him have the ball back in the final minutes of the game.
WEEK 17 @ NEW YORK JETS
By this point in the season, my guess is that the Patriots are fighting to clinch a playoff spot while the Jets are doing their best to play spoiler. I will not be shocked one bit if the latter were to occur, but the only thing that is holding me back from picking that upset is Justin Fields. He is a very talented quarterback, but he has his limits, so I am not sure how good or bad he will look against a New England team that will be out for blood. Also, I am not going to say that the Jets defense is easily going to be a top five unit just because Aaron Glenn is the head coach. His units in Detroit were never elite, despite the young talented players that he was able to coach, so why should I think any differently this year?
WEEK 18 vs. MIAMI DOLPHINS
I know that I said that Tua has not lost to the Patriots in his starting career but at some point in time, that streak has to end eventually. However, there is one year that I think of when I look at this matchup: 2021. Before the bye week, New England had a 9-4 record and were the number one seed in the NFL. When they came back, they completely fell apart. Their last regular season matchup was on the road against the Dolphins and that loss thrusted the Patriots into the Wild Card as the sixth seed. Once again, will this team experience deja vu or is this finally the year they prove they have championship aspirations again?
FINAL RECORD PREDICTION: 12-5
