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Revolution
2010 NFL preview roundup
When last we saw the New England Patriots in a game that mattered, they were booed off the turf at Gillette Stadium, the victims of a pathetic playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens on a bitter cold afternoon that rivaled the taste left in the mouths of the Foxborough Faithful.
In the months since that ugly defeat, you could argue that the Patriots have gotten worse, not better. Tom Brady and Randy Moss are both a year older, and without new deals to make everybody feel warm and comfy. Despite his rapid return, it remains to be seen how Wes Welker can maintain his performance over an entire season following ACL surgery. Bill Belichick has taken on more jobs than the Hanleys, and the defense, already a question mark entering training camp, will be missing key pieces including Ty Warren and Leigh Bodden.
Yet, none of that will likely deter the Patriots from remaining one of the NFL's elite teams.
Forget about the defense, for its vulnerability probably won't be a factor. After all, the Saints (28th) and Colts (31st) were among the worst in total defense last season and both only made it to the Super Bowl. The Carolina Panthers finished first and were 8-8. A great defense can carry you in the NFL, but with teams' penchant to throw the ball more rather than run it inevitably will be burned more often than in the past. In other words, even if the Jets are the 2000 Ravens, that alone isn't going to get it done.
In the same vein, that's why offensively this team will be fine despite a nonexistent running game. Off-field contract boredom aside, Brady and Co. will motor, just so long as Julian Edelman and Brandon Tate can emerge as solid No. 3 guys. The Pats may even employ a tight end in the passing game this season. Imagine.
But that afternoon in January is why the Patriots will win the AFC East. That HBO bravado, the doubts that linger, and the general sense of disbelief is why they are primed to tell the world, "Told ya so." Talent is one thing. But where the Patriots may come up short in that category, there remains a rather large chip. And if anyone can get his players - lacking in veteran leadership or not - to use that chip to the best of their advantage, it's Belichick.
Sleep on them if you prefer. That seems to always be when they awaken.
Here's how folks around the country see the Pats finishing the 2010 NFL season:
Boston Globe staff: Only Chris Gasper likes the Pats to win the East. Monique Walker and Jim McBride have New England as a wild card. None pick New England to win the Super Bowl.
Boston Herald staff: Ian Rapoport and Dan Ventura pick the pats to win the East. Karen Guregian, Gerry Callahan, Steve Buckley, and Ron Borges have New England as a wild card. None pick New England to win the Super Bowl.
ESPN.com staff: Eight of 16 pick the Patriots to win the East. None pick New England to win the Super Bowl.
Sports Illustrated staff: Peter King, Don Banks, and Kerry Byrne like the Pats as an AFC wild card, while Andrew Perloff, Damon Hack, and Jerome Bettis like them to win the East. None pick New England to win the Super Bowl.
USA Today staff: Four out of eight pick the Pats to win the East, while three others have them as a wild card entrant. None pick New England to win the Super Bowl.
Accuscore: Gives the Patriots a 43.7 percent chance of winning their division. The Jets are at 34.4 percent, the Dolphins 16.9 percent, and the Bills 5 percent.
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: Patriots as AFC East champs. Prisco has New England losing to the Colts in the AFC title game. "The Jets may be favored by many to win the AFC East, but people need to remember that while they were one game away from the Super Bowl, there were also one half of the Colts resting their starters away from being 8-8 and a non-playoff team. Mark Sanchez is expected to be better this year, but even if he improves his completion percentage by 5 percent, his TD rate by 25 percent and cuts his INTs by 25 percent, he is still a statistically below-average starting QB. The Jets have a very tough schedule and when your QB has a rating lower than 80, it is hard to win more than nine games. The Patriots have a lot of question marks on defense and an aging offense but they are the favorite in the AFC East."
Adam Schein, Foxsports.com: Pats at 10-6 and a wild card. "The Patriots have no running attack. And Logan Mankins is certainly stubborn enough to hold out for an entire season. But Tom Brady is flat-out amazing. Wes Welker is healthy. I like the young tight ends."
NFL Fanhouse: Six out of 12 pick the Pats to win the East. Chris Harry writes, "The Jets are beating their chests, but they won't be beating the Patriots. Unless Mark Sanchez makes mega-strides in Year 2, I'll take the team with the Canton-bound QB."
Newark Star Ledger staff: Patriots to win the East. "The Patriots clearly lack the near-flawless composition of the teams that dominated the NFL during the aughts. They have holes at running back and in the pass rush, and a neophyte secondary. However, the Patriots still have a stranglehold on the division ? they?ve won six of the past seven years ? and feature the director (Bill Belichick) and leading man (Tom Brady) from their dynasty years not long gone."
Hank Gola, New York Daily News: Patriots, 9-7, third-place finish.
Bob Kravitz, Indianapolis Star: Likes the Pats as a wild card team, but the Colts as Super Bowl champions.
Gregg Rosenthal, NBC Sports.com: 10-6, AFC East champs.
How we see it:
AFC East: New England
AFC North: Baltimore
AFC South: Indianapolis
AFC West: Kansas City
Wild cards: Miami, Houston
NFC East: Dallas
NFC North: Green Bay
NFC South: New Orleans
NFC West: San Francisco
Wild cards: New York, Atlanta
Patriots fall to Ravens in divisional playoff.
Super Bowl: Packers over Ravens
About the Author
Contact Eric Wilbur by e-mail or follow him on Twitter.
