2017 New England Patriots Preview
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Transactions
Key Additions: RB Mike Gillislee, RB Rex Burkhead, DT Lawrence Guy, LB David Harris, CB Stephon Gilmore
Key Subtractions: RB LeGarrette Blount, TE Martellus Bennett, EDGE Chris Long, EDGE Jabaal Sheard, CB Logan Ryan
Strengths
As what the entire NFL found out last season, Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, and the Patriots weren’t the types who would rest on their laurels. There’s nothing that would make this team content and it would find every possible source of motivation to win. In last year’s case, that motivation came in the form of Brady’s four-game suspension owing to the Deflate-gate ruckus. What’s scarier is that the Patriots, who are +300 to win another Super Bowl again, might even be better today than they did last season, when they won the Super Bowl. Brady is turning 40 this August but nothing from last season suggested that he’s slowing down. Maybe he would this season. But you know maybe he won’t.
Plus the Pats did a terrific job of upgrading Brady’s weapons with the offseason acquisition of wide receiver Brandin Cooks. Brady could make a star out of nobodies like Chris Hogan so it’s a no-brainer how much Cooks’ addition to the squad make the Pats’ passing game even more potent. The fact that Brady managed to lead the Pats to the Super Bowl despite tight end Rob Gronkowski playing in just eight regular season games portends the harsh reality for New England opponents, assuming Gronk is 100 percent healthy. Over at the other side of the ball, expect the Pats to be a tougher customer for opposing receivers, who’ll now have to contend with former Buffalo Bill cornerback Stephon Gilmore and Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler.
Weaknesses
Losing LeGarrette Blount hurts for the Pats, who banked on the running back for most of their production on the ground last season. With Blount now in Philly, the Pats are left without a definite and universally recognized every day running back. Sure they got Mike Gillislee, but he spent majority of last season in LeSean McCoy’s shadow in Buffalo. Rex Burkhead and Dion Lewis are serviceable backs, but they’re not on the same level as Blount’s. Leave it to Belichick to make us look fools, though, once he finds a way to make all these components in the backfield work like a well-oiled machine.
The interior of the offensive line is another area the Pats could be at least a little bit concerned. Center David Andrews and guard Joe Thuney in particular are often mentioned as weak links on the Pats’ roster. Then again, if there’s a team who could fix issues in one offseason, it’s got to be the Patriots.
Key Player – Tom Brady
For as long as Brady is the starter, the Patriots’ destiny will be determined mostly by how good he’s going to play his role. Brady, as mentioned, is closing in on 40, but you would bet that any team would take Brady this season over whoever it is they’re projecting to start.
Key Game – vs. Atlanta (October 22)
Circle October 22 on your calendars. Come Week 7, the Atlanta Falcons will have a shot at exacting some measure of revenge against the team who left them looking like a bunch of shocked Kevin Harts last February.
2016 Team Stats
| Category | Stat (Rank) |
|---|---|
| Points per game | 27.6 (#3) |
| Passing yards per game | 269.2 (#4) |
| Rushing yards per game | 117.0 (#7) |
| Scoring defense | 15.6 (#1) |
Writer’s Prediction
New England goes 15-1 this season.
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