2017 Record - 13-3-0
Head Coach - Bill Belichick
2017 Offensive Ranking - 1st (394 ypg, 28.6 points per game)
2017 Defensive Ranking - 29th (366 ypg, 18.5 points allowed per game)
OFFENSE - Quarterback Tom Brady returns for his 19th season as the reigning NFL Most Valuable Player, having passed for 4,577 yards with 32 touchdowns and only eight interceptions last season. Brian Hoyer continues to hold the clipboard.
Running backs are James White (171 yards on the ground along with 56 receptions for 429 yards and three touchdowns), Rex Burkhead (264 yards and five TD), Mike Gillislee (383 yards, five TD) and rookie Sony Michel (Georgia).
The wide receivers include Chris Hogan (34 receptions for 439 yards and five TD), Malcolm Mitchell, Julian Edelman, Cordarrelle Patterson (31, 309 with Oakland) and perhaps rookie 6th round draft pick Braxton Berrios (Miami, Florida). Edelman and Mitchell both missed last season with injuries and Edelman is suspended for the first four games this season as well.
Rob Gronkowski is the tight end and was the leading receiver for New England a year ago, hauling in 69 catches for 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns. Dwayne Allen (10, 86, one TD) is the other tight end.
DEFENSE - Trey Flowers (6 1/2 QB sacks), Malcom Brown, Deatrich Wise (five sacks) and Adrian Clayborn man the front lines while linebackers include Dont'a Hightower, Kyle Van Noy (5 1/2 sacks) and Elandon Roberts.
The secondary features safeties Patrick Chung, Devin McCourty and Duron Harmon, who had four interceptions. The corners are Stephon Gilmore (two picks) and Jason McCourty. New England had 42 QB sacks and twelve interceptions last season, but their pass defense gave up 251 yards per game, which ranked 30th in the NFL.
OUTLOOK - As long as Head Coach Bill Belichick and QB Tom Brady are around, the Patriots are the team to beat in the AFC East division as well as the conference.
As usual, there was plenty of personnel turnover this off-season, but the Pats always seem to roll with the changes and keep winning football games.
Brady will have his favorite targets (Gronkowski and a healthy Julian Edelman) back this season, along with reliable wideouts as well. The running game will have to make adjustments as the leading rusher from 2017 (Dion Lewis) is gone via free agency. James White has shown he can be a difference maker in big games, so he will be ready to go along with Rex Burkhead and Mike Gillislee.
The defense must play better this season after ranking 29th overall (which included 20th against the run and 30th against the pass), giving up 366 yards per game. New England did well on scoring defense though, yielding 18.5 points per game, which was fifth in the league. In addition, the Patriots were a plus-6 in the turnover category.
Whether the Patriots can return to the Super Bowl for the third consecutive year is another question. It's possible, but eventually age and bad breaks have to catch up with this team, right?
Another AFC East title should happen, barring injury to Brady or other key players along with a 12-4 record. If the team is clicking on all cylinders in January, another Super Bowl title could very well be in the making.
2018 TEAM SCHEDULE
Week 1 - vs. Houston
Week 2 - at Jacksonville
Week 3 - at Detroit
Week 4 - vs. Miami
Week 5 - vs. Indianapolis
Week 6 - vs. Kansas City
Week 7 - at Chicago
Week 8 - at Buffalo
Week 9 - vs. Green Bay
Week 10 - at Tennessee
Week 11 - Bye
Week 12 - at NY Jets
Week 13 - vs. Minnesota
Week 14 - at Miami
Week 15 - at Pittsburgh
Week 16 - vs. Buffalo
Week 17 - vs. NY Jets
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