The New England Patriots won the Super Bowl last year and the expectations are - once again - championship or bust. After offseason additions of stars like Brandin Cooks and Stephon Gilmore, some are even wondering if New England will go undefeated. Will they? Here's a game-by-game prediction of the Patriots' record this year:
Week 1: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Prediction: WIN (1-0)
If you're the Chiefs...how would you like to open the season on the road against the defending champs? Don't expect much from Kansas City in this one.
Week 2: at New Orleans Saints
Prediction: WIN (2-0)
At this point, we know the deal with the Saints. Their offense is very, very good, but their defense is bad. The Superdome isn't as intimidating as it once was.
Week 3: vs. Houston Texans
Prediction: WIN (3-0)
Houston has plenty of talent, but until they figure out what they're doing at quarterback - and get good play from the position - they won't be able to compete with the Patriots.
Week 4: vs. Carolina Panthers
Prediction: WIN (4-0)
The Panthers will be back in the playoff picture this year and have enough talent to hang with New England. The only problem for that is that the game in is Foxbrough. Tom Brady doesn't lose there.
Week 5: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Prediction: LOSS (4-1)
This is certainly an upset. Tampa Bay is going to be a breakout team this year thanks to their plethora of offensive weapons, but that's only part of while they'll win this game. The other is that they're playing at home on a Thursday night - and home teams usually win those short week games.
Week 6: at New York Jets
Prediction: WIN (5-1)
The Jets might struggle to get through the SEC with the talent on their roster. They are not going to challenge the Patriots.
Week 7: vs. Atlanta Falcons
Prediction: WIN (6-1)
Yes, this will be an extremely tough game for the Patriots, but New England does get it at home, and we know the Patriots virtually never lose at home - especially on Sunday night.
Week 8: vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Prediction: WIN (7-1)
The Chargers don't have many offensive weapons and are rebuilding their defense. Tom Brady and New England's offense should have a field day against them.
Week 9: BYE
Week 10: at Denver Broncos
Prediction: LOSS (7-2)
Another team with an incredibly stingy defense, Denver has had a lot of success against the Patriots because of their ability to get pressure on Tom Brady. This being a Sunday night game on the road only adds to the difficulty for New England.
Week 11: at Oakland Raiders
Prediction: WIN (8-2)
There's not much that needs to be said about why this game is important. Oakland was thought to be the biggest threat to New England last year before Carr's injury, and that's expected to be the case again. This game could be for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs - which New England will get.
Week 12: vs. Miami Dolphins
Prediction: WIN (9-2)
Miami was going to be the biggest competition to New England in the division (not that they were much competition), but then Ryan Tannehill went down. Without their starting quarterback, the Dolphins will be a below average team.
Week 13: at Buffalo Bills
Prediction: WIN (10-2)
The Bills did beat New England last year - but that was last year. They got worse on defense this offseason and have no offensive weapons.
Week 14: at Miami Dolphins
Prediction: WIN (11-2)
See above: New England will be motivated with a chance to clinch a playoff spot likely on the line.
Week 15: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Prediction: WIN (12-2)
Talk about a heavyweight fight. This one could go down to the final possession, and Tom Brady and the Patriots just don't lose those kind of games. The AFC has run through them for two decades for a reason.
Week 16: vs. Buffalo Bills
Prediction: WIN (13-2)
The Patriots will likely be able to clinch the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC in this game. They'll do so by at least two touchdowns.
Week 17: vs. New York Jets
Prediction: WIN (14-2)
Again, it's the Jets. New England will win even if they play their backups.
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