catchbluefish
Member
Patriots have too many questions at receiver to be taken as a serious threat to contend for the Superbowl. Patriots defense needs Chandler Jones and Donte Hightower to step up. Pats lack of pass rush and inability to draft CB's has put the Patriots defense at the bottom of the league for five seasons.
I expect the Patriots to win a weak division and their first home playoff game... and then lose in their second round. I see an 11-5 record and no first round bye.
Now Ron, you ought to know by now that offense is not going to be a problem for the pats. Brady led the league in TD passes in 2002 with the likes of David Patten over guys like Peyton, Favre, and Warner. The pats have been one of the top offenses in the league since brady became the QB and that isn't going to change as long as brady and belichick is around.
the problem is and has been for quite some time the defense. In the past they have managed to cobble together a group that has a great deal of depth and decent talent, but very few elite playmakers. That has worked out fine in the regular season but doesn't cut it in the post season. Expecting that even brady and company is not going to stall against a playoff calibre defense occasionally is just not realistic.
They actually now have a great deal of talent on defense, at least on paper. They have not proven yet they have the playmakers to really make a difference when it counts. If they step up, the pats are going to be a better team than last year. If they don't, they aren't, simple as that. And god's honest truth, I have no idea how its all going to turn out