NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
2020 Record - 7-9-0
Head Coach - Bill Belichick
Key Additions - Kyle Van Noy (LB), Nelson Agholor (WR), Kendrick Bourne (WR), Hunter Henry (TE), Henry Anderson (DL), Montravius Adams (DL), Trent Brown (OL), Ted Karras (OL), Davon Godchaux (DL), Matt Judon (LB), Jonnu Smith (TE), Raekwon McMillan (LB), Jalen Mills (DB)
OFFENSE - Cam Newton is back at quarterback this season along with top rookie draft choice Mac Jones (Alabama). Brian Hoyer and Jarrett Stidham are also in camp. Newton passed for 2,657 yards along with eight touchdowns and ten interceptions last year. He also had 592 rushing yards and scored twelve touchdowns.
Damien Harris and Sony Michel are the top running backs. Harris gained 691 yards (5.0 ypc average) and had two touchdowns while Michel averaged 5.7 yards per carry and had 449 yards and one score. James White is the third option and he caught 49 passes for 375 yards and a touchdown last season.
The wide receivers include newcomer free agents Nelson Agholor (48 receptions for 896 yards and eight touchdowns with the Raiders) and Kendrick Bourne, who had 49 receptions for 667 yards and two touchdowns with the 49ers. Jakobi Meyers led the team with 59 catches for 729 yards and N'Keal Harry had 33 receptions for 309 yards and two scores. The tight ends are Hunter Henry (currently on the injury list) who had 60 receptions for 613 yards and four touchdowns with the Chargers and also Jonnu Smith (41, 448, eight TD with the Tennessee Titans).
DEFENSE - Lawrence Guy, Henry Anderson and Davon Godchaux will be up front while others include Byron Cowart, Tashawn Bower, Desatrich Wise, Jr. and rookies Christian Narmore (Alabama) and Ronnie Perkins (Oklahoma), who were both selected in the second round of the NFL draft. The linebackers are Dont'a Hightower (back this season after opting out last year due to COVID-19), Matt Judon, Ja'Whaun Bentley and Kyle Van Noy. Both Van Noy and Judon are free agent signees. Chase Winovich (team high 5 1/2 QB sacks), Raekwon McMillan, Josh Uche and Anfernee Jennings provide depth to the linebacking corps.
The secondary features ball hawks J.C. Jackson (nine interceptions) and Stephon Gilmore at the corner spots. The safeties are Kyle Dugger and Devin McCourty. Jalen Mills, Myles Bryant and Jonathan Jones and Adrian Phillips, who each picked off two passes last season, are also in the mix. New England's pass defense was eighth in the NFL last year, allowing 222 yards per game while intercepting 18 passes and garnering 24 QB sacks. The Patriots allowed 22.1 points per game and the run defense gave up 132 YPG as the team finished 15th overall on defense, allowing an average of 354 yards each game.
2021 SEASON OUTLOOK - The Patriots missed the NFL Playoffs for the first time in twelve years and that doesn't sit well with Head Coach Bill Belichick, who was without longtime starting quarterback Tom Brady in the 2020 season.
In order to get back to the playoffs, the team signed no less than a dozen free agents and also drafted a quarterback and two defensive linemen to help bolster those areas. Quarterback play was very inconsistent a year ago and the defensive front was missing people due to injuries and opt outs which made the run defense suffer. New England's offense was 27th overall (327 yards per game) while only scoring an average of 20.4 points per game. The passing game was 30th in the league, getting just 181 YPG. The running game was decent, averaging 146 YPG, which was fourth best in the NFL a year ago.
Belichick and his coaching staff are looking for big improvements with some of the players coming back from various injuries and personal decisions to sit out last year due to COVID-19 concerns. Longtime Pats wide receiver Julian Edelman retired along with secondary ace Patrick Chung, so getting new receivers and defensive personnel this year was a must. Linebacker Dont'a Hightower is a beast and his presence will help bolster the defense.
If the new pieces mesh with the concept of the Patriots way of play and the returning veterans play to their capabilities, then a playoff appearance could be back in the picture. However, Cam Newton must play better all around this year or else the rookie QB (Mac Jones) will be in there. The Buffalo Bills are the top team in the AFC East now and Miami certainly is a playoff contender as well. So the Patriots will be hard pressed once again in divisional play. The likely finish this season will be 9-8 and that will likely leave the Patriots on the outside of the playoff party once again.
2021 SCHEDULE
Week 1 - vs. Miami
Week 2 - at N.Y. Jets
Week 3 - vs. New Orleans
Week 4 - vs. Tampa Bay
Week 5 - at Houston
Week 6 - vs. Dallas
Week 7 - vs. N.Y. Jets
Week 8 - at L.A. Chargers
Week 9 - at Carolina
Week 10 - vs. Cleveland
Week 11- at Atlanta
Week 12 - vs. Tennessee
Week 13 - at Buffalo
Week 14 - BYE
Week 15 - at Indianapolis
Week 16 - vs. Buffalo
Week 17 - vs. Jacksonville
Week 18 - at Miami
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