Look down below. Hardly anybody believes in the Patriots.
Bill Belichick must be loving this.
We’ve witnessed over the years just how powerful the Patriots head coach’s reminders about a lack of respect can fuel his team. It defined the 2001 champs, and lingered as an ingredient throughout the dynasty, even if it sounded downright ridiculous during years when New England was, itself, ridiculing the rest of the NFL.
But this. This is true doubt that the 2022 Patriots are facing, both on a national and local level. An eight-win season might be something to pine for with an offense currently going through growing pains, paired with a defense that has opened eyes over the season’s first two weeks, but nothing to the degree that we should think of the unit as elite.