2019 Record - 12-4-0
Head Coach - Bill Belichick
New Players in 2020 - Cam Newton (QB), Brian Hoyer (QB), Damiere Byrd (WR), Brandon Copeland (LB), Adrian Phillips (DB), Cody Davis (DB), Beau Allen (DL)
Players opting out for 2020 (COVID-19) - Marcus Cannon (OL), Patrick Chung (DB), Matt LaCosse (TE), Dont'a Hightower (LB), Marqise Lee (WR), Brandon Bolden (RB), Najee Toran (OL), Dan Vitale (RB)
OFFENSE - Cam Newton comes over from the Carolina Panthers via free agency after missing almost the entire 2019 season with injuries and he will likely be the starting quarterback this year. Jarrett Stidham will likely back him up after filling that role for Tom Brady last season. Brian Hoyer (372 passing yards, four TD and four INT with Indianapolis in 2019) is back in New England looking to contribute.
Sony Michel (912 yards, 3.7 ypc average, seven TD) and James White (263, 3.9 ypc, one TD and also 72 receptions for 645 yards and five TD) are the primary running backs again. Rex Burkhead (302, 4.6 ypc, three TD and 27 receptions) provides depth.
The wide receivers are Julian Edelman (100 receptions, 1,117 yards, six TD), N'Keal Harry (12, 102, two TD), Damiere Byrd (32, 359, one TD with Arizona) and Mohammed Sanu (26, 207, one TD). The tight ends are Ryan Izzo (six catches, 119 yards, one TD) and two rookies, Devin Asiasi(UCLA) and Dalton Keene from Virginia Tech.
DEFENSE - The Patriots lost two All-Pro linebackers when Jamie Collins left for Detroit and Dont'a Hightower opted out for this season, so they will likely look to a pair of rookies to fill the void. Josh Uche (Michigan) and Anfrenee Jennings (Alabama) will be the players looking to step up. Chase Winovich (5 1/2 QB sacks), Brandon Copeland and J'Whaun Bentley are the other linebackers for New England.
Up front are nose tackles Beau Allen and Adam Butler (six sacks) along with ends Lawrence Guy (three sacks) and John Simon, who had four sacks last season. Deatrich Wise, Jr. (2 1/2 sacks) adds more depth on the front line.
The secondary was among the best in pro football last year, led by cornerback Stephon Gilmore (six interceptions, with two of them going back for touchdowns) and also Jason McCourty and J.C. Jackson, who had five picks. The safeties include Devin McCourty (five INT) and Adrian Phillips, a free agent signee from the Los Angeles Chargers. Rookie Kyle Dugger (Lenoir-Rhyne) and Jonathan Jones will fill in where needed.
The Patriots led the league in scoring defense last season, allowing just 14.1 points per game. They also topped the NFL with 25 interceptions and a plus-21 in the turnover category. They had the stingiest defense overall, giving up only 276 yards per game, including 96 on the ground (sixth in NFL) and 180 passing yards per game, which was second overall.
OUTLOOK FOR 2020 - The Tom Brady-Bill Belichick era is over in New England and what a run they had for the past 20 years. Six Super Bowl titles in nine appearances.
Wow!
But it is now 2020 and this season is fast approaching for Belihick and company that finds Brady (and former Pats tight end Rob Gronkowski) in Tampa Bay.
The Patriots signed quarterback Cam Newton, a former NFL MVP (2015 season) who is looking to resurrect his career after injury plagued seasons since those days. Newton provides a good combination of speed and agility from the position provided he is fully healthy again.
The team needs much better production from the running game, which ranked 18th in the league in 2019, averaging 106 yards per game. The Pats offense often sputtered and finished 15th overall on offense (354 yards per game) while scoring 26.2 points per game, which was seventh in the NFL.
The defense is solid, but has a lot of holes to fill this season and if the players tagged for that do not step up, it could be a tough go for this team, which has dominated the AFC East for the past two decades.
The first eight games will provide a good indicator of what kind of team the Patriots will be in the 2020 season, facing both Super Bowl teams from 2019 (Kansas City and San Francisco) along with road games against Seattle and Buffalo and they also face the Las Vegas Raiders and Denver Broncos, two teams that appear to be on the rise.
If anyone can pull off a successful season without Tom Brady, it would be Head Coach Bill Belichick.
Remember that back in 2008 when Brady was lost for the entire season in the opening game, the Patriots still managed an 11-5 finish. The playoffs are in view again this season, but it may have to be as a wild card this time around rather than as division champions.
Stay tuned.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week One - vs. Miami
Week Two - at Seattle
Week Three - vs. Las Vegas
Week Four - at Kansas City
Week Five - vs. Denver
Week Six - BYE
Week Seven - vs. San Francisco
Week Eight - at Buffalo
Week Nine - at N.Y. Jets
Week Ten - vs. Baltimore
Week Eleven - at Houston
Week Twelve - vs. Arizona
Week Thirteen - at L.A. Chargers
Week Fourteen - at L.A. Rams
Week Fifteen - at Miami
Week Sixteen - vs. Buffalo
Week Seventeen - vs. N.Y. Jets
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