NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
2021 Record - 10-7-0
Head Coach - Bill Belichick
New Additions - DeVante Parker (WR), Jabrill Peppers (DB), Malcolm Butler (DB), Terrance Mitchell (DB), Ty Montgomery (WR/RB), Mack Wilson (LB)
Offensive Rank in 2021 - 15th (353 YPG); Scoring - 6th (27.2 PPG)
Defensive Rank in 2021 - 4th (311 YPG); Scoring - 2nd (17.8 PPG)
Mac Jones enters his second season as the starting quarterback and last year he passed for 3,801 yards with 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Brian Hoyer is looking to be the backup QB once again. The running backs include Damien Harris (929 rush yards, 4.6 YPC average, 15 TD), Rhamondre Stevenson (606, 4.6 YPC, five TD) and Ty Montgomery, who also can play wide receiver. Jakobi Meyers was the team's leading receiver in 2021, catching 83 passes for 866 yards and two scores while Kendrick Bourne (55, 800, five TD), Nelson Agholor (37, 473, three TD) and DeVante Parker (40, 515, two TD with Miami) round out the receiving corps. Hunter Henry is the tight end and had 50 receptions for 603 yards and nine touchdowns. Jonnu Smith is the other TE and had 28 grabs for 294 yards and one score.
On defense, linebacker Matthew Judon (12 1/2 QB sacks) leads the way along with LB Ja'Whaun Bentley (109 tackles) while Lawrence Guy (defensive end) helps up front along with nose man Devon Godchaux. The secondary features safeties Devin McCourty and Adrian Phillips (four interceptions and 92 tackles) while Jalen Mills, Jonathan Jones, Malcom Butler and Terrance Mitchell (one INT with Houston) play the corners. Kyle Dugger (four picks) and Jabrill Peppers will provide depth at safety.
Outlook for 2022 season - Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick has pretty much seen it all as he enters his 23rd season with the team and knows that Jones should progress in his second NFL season. The team surprised some by making the playoffs and finishing just one game behind the Buffalo Bills in the AFC East division. If the Pats want to maintain that status in 2022, the offense must pick it up a notch or two and match the fire power of several AFC teams if they would like to get back to the post-season and advance past the wild card round. New England played much better in 2021, their second season without QB
Tom Brady and the strength of the team was the defense, which ranked
fourth overall and second in the NFL in points allowed.
The defense picked up some new and also familiar old faces (cornerback Malcolm Butler) for the upcoming season to team with a solid unit led by the linebacking corps and a ball hawking defensive backfield that ranked second in the NFL against the pass. The Patriots intercepted 23 passes last year and will look to do more of the same this season, but without J.C. Jackson (a free agent moved on to the Chargers) who had eight of those picks.
The biggest key to another successful season will be Jones showing improvement and not making mistakes with the football. He showed a lot of poise in his rookie year and followed the blue print for the team's offense. The Patriots will have a new offensive planner as Josh McDaniels left to take over as the head coach in Las Vegas. Another playoff appearance could happen, so how well the team executes the new game plans will determine a lot in the 2022 season.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week One - at Miami
Week Two - at Pittsburgh
Week Three - vs. Baltimore
Week Four - at Green Bay
Week Five - vs. Detroit
Week Six - at Cleveland
Week Seven - vs. Chicago
Week Eight - at N.Y. Jets
Week Nine - vs. Indianapolis
Week Ten - BYE
Week Eleven - vs. N.Y. Jets
Week Twelve - at Minnesota
Week Thirteen - vs. Buffalo
Week Fourteen - at Arizona
Week Fifteen - at Las Vegas
Week Sixteen - vs. Cincinnati
Week Seventeen - vs. Miami
Week Eighteen - at Buffalo
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