The New England Patriots kickstart their schedule on Sunday, heading on the highway to tackle the high-powered Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
It is not going to get any simpler than that, both.
New England goes to do quite a bit of touring — hitting the highway for video games in Arizona, San Francisco, Miami and London, which is nice for the fourth-most whole miles traveled in the course of the upcoming NFL season. Tennessee, Chicago and Arizona aren’t precisely simple last-place attracts, both, so there would not appear to be any breaks.
The Patriots possible aren’t too nervous about what the final word report appears like. Drake Maye’s improvement is the highest precedence, however in serving to him attain his potential there needs to be a number of wins sprinkled all through the calendar. Let’s predict the place they’re going to come from:
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Week 1: at Cincinnati Bengals
Cincy is a extremely robust problem, even when Ja’Marr Chase goes to be sitting on his sofa for the primary few weeks of the season.
Bengals’ defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo is likely to be the scariest early-season matchup attainable for the Patriots, as he is recognized for his potential to disguise blitz’s and manufacture stress on quarterbacks. Chukwuma Okorafor and Nick Leverett might be in for a looooooong afternoon on the left aspect of the offensive line.
RESULT: L (0-1)
Week 2: vs. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks have a significant query with Geno Smith, as his superb bounce-back season in 2022 was adopted up by a disappointing marketing campaign in 2023. Seattle introduced in a defensive-minded head coach in Mike Macdonald, whereas offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb is making the bounce from faculty ball.
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The Patriots protection might put collectively a signature recreation early within the 12 months, and we count on it to return in opposition to the proficient — however flawed — Seahawks.
RESULT: W (1-1)
WEEK 3: at New York Jets
Aaron Rodgers is again, and New York will likely be bumpin’ in his first dwelling recreation since happening with an damage in opposition to the Buffalo Payments in his final season-opener. The Jets will take this one, extending their successful streak in opposition to the Patriots to 2.
RESULT: L (1-2)
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WEEK 4: at San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers in bother for some time there, as Brandon Aiyuk and Trent Williams every missed coaching camp resulting from frustrations with their contracts. San Francisco found out the financials, although, and each needs to be able to go in opposition to New England.
It might get ugly.
RESULT: L (1-3)
WEEK 5: vs. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins are resulting from regress, even with the ungodly amount of cash they proceed to dish out. Tua Tagovailoa has benefitted enormously from his supporting forged, however for pretty much as good as Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle have been, the offense appears pretty one-dimensional.
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The Patriots might steal this one at dwelling, shopping for Jacoby Brissett a number of extra weeks below middle.
RESULT: W (2-3)
WEEK 6: vs. Houston Texans
Houston continued so as to add this offseason, bringing in Stefon Diggs to an offense that already ranked seventh in passing yards final season. Joe Mixon ought to assist the working recreation enhance, whereas the younger Texans protection continues to enhance.
New England simply would not have the horses to maintain up.
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RESULT: L (2-4)
WEEK 7: at Jacksonville Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence is coming into an essential season, because it quickly will likely be time for the Jaguars to determine whether or not they wish to pay him or not. Jacksonville will likely be taking part in its second consecutive recreation in London, as properly, which ought to give it the higher hand over New England.
RESULT: L (2-5)
WEEK 8: vs. New York Jets
The Jets will discover a option to lose one among these video games, and we really feel extra snug assuming it comes on the highway. New York’s offensive line is a significant query mark, so late-October is once we might begin to see the wheels fall off for Rodgers — if he makes it that far.
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RESULT: W (3-5)
WEEK 9: at Tennessee Titans
The Titans actually solely have one query to reply in the event that they hope to compete within the AFC South. Is Will Levis the true deal? Tennessee ought to work out the reply to that query by the halfway level of the season, which is able to play a job in whether or not we stand by this decide or not.
RESULT: L (3-6)
WEEK 10: at Chicago Bears
Caleb Williams vs. Drake Maye could be superior, however even when we get that matchup the general final result should not be a lot of a query. Chicago and New England will each be good defensively, however D.J. Moore, Rome Odunze and Keenan Allen are a greater trio than DeMario Douglas, Ok.J. Osborn and Ja’Lynn Polk.
We all know, stunning.
RESULT: L (3-7)
WEEK 11: vs. Los Angeles Rams
The Rams have persistently been aggressive, and the hallmark of their workforce comes within the type of a dynamic duo at large receiver. The Patriots may be capable of rating on this one, however can they sustain with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua?
RESULT: L (3-8)
WEEK 12: at Miami Dolphins
Miami will get the win again, as it is going to be in the course of a postseason push whereas New England is simply taking part in out the string.
RESULT: L (3-9)
WEEK 13: vs. Indianapolis Colts
Maye needs to be beginning by this level, and we predict the Colts are somebody he might discover loads of success in opposition to heading into an off week. Indianapolis’ protection is suspect, particularly struggling on the again finish.
Maye and Polk might see their breakout recreation come on this one.
RESULT: W (4-9)
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WEEK 14: BYE
They cannot lose in the course of the BYE!
WEEK 15: at Arizona Cardinals
Arizona is pesky, however they catch New England at a nasty time.
The Patriots will likely be coming off a BYE — and on this situation, a win — with confidence at an all-time excessive. Kyler Murray discovered success at Gillette Stadium a number of years again, however he is persistently struggled in opposition to defenses that make him beat them with intermediate throws.
RESULT: W (5-9)
WEEK 16: at Buffalo Payments
Josh Allen in a playoff push? It is the Payments.
RESULT: L (5-10)
WEEK 17: vs. Los Angeles Chargers
The Patriots and Chargers memorably performed in a snow-filled matchup at Gillette Stadium final season, with minimal followers within the stands. Might we see it occur once more? Sure, in all probability, with LA working the ball upwards of 40 instances and stealing one other boring win.
RESULT: L (5-11)
WEEK 18: vs. Buffalo Payments
The Payments get a second crack at beating the Patriots, however on this situation we see them having locked up their playoff place. Allen will get the afternoon off, whereas New England heads into the offseason on a excessive word.
RESULT: W (6-11)
