Earlier this week the NFL released the 2017 schedule. Now, we will take a look at how the New England Patriots will fare with their slate.
Just a few days ago the NFL released their full 2017 schedule, so now the New England Patriots know just how things will line up for the year.
The team has plenty of primetime games, five in all, with the potential for more to be flexed. The Patriots will also be able to stay home for the holidays, as there Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve games will both be played at home.
According to the Strength of Schedule chart from ESPN, New England has the 12th most difficult schedule in the league this year.
Here, we will take a crack at predicting the Patriots final regular season record.
1st Quarter (4-0)
Week 1: Thursday, Sept. 7th vs Kansas City Chiefs at 8:30 PM on NBC (W)
Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 17th @ New Orleans Saints at 1 PM on CBS (W)
Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 24th vs Houston Texans at 1 PM on CBS (W)
Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 1st vs Carolina Panthers at 1 PM on FOX (W)
The 2017 offseason may come to be known as the year of the running back in New England. The team signed free agent Rex Burkhead, extended James White’s contract, and have extended an offer sheet to Bills back Mike Gillislee. They may also target a running back in the upcoming NFL Draft, someone like James Conner or D’Onta Foreman. Oh, and the Patriots still have Dion Lewis and Brandon Bolden as well.
In the first game of the season, I think New England will aim to showcase their new powers in the backfield. There’s no telling what the backfield rotation will be with all of those players, but each has there own unique skill set. Tom Brady and the offense should grab an early lead, allowing the defense to step up, play aggressive, and shut down the Chiefs. Kansas City no longer seems as tough without Jamaal Charles. Their tight end Travis Kelce wants to be Rob Gronkowski, but he just isn’t. He’s talented no doubt, but as the best weapon on the Chiefs offense Bill Belichick and Matt Patricia will shut him down.
Then, I’d expect the new look running game to take over, control the clock, and secure an Opening Night win for the Patriots.
In Week 2, Brandin Cooks will return to New Orleans to put on a show. Perhaps Malcolm Butler will be lined up opposite of him if he’s traded at this year’s draft.
Tom Brady should look to show the Saints what they are missing with Cooks. Expect him to have a huge game in Week 2.
The Texans are tough in Week 3, but who’s their QB? If the answer is Tom Savage or a newly drafted rookie, this is a clear win for the Patriots. The Houston offense simply won’t be able to keep up with New England.
Newly acquired pass rusher Kony Ealy will look to take down his former QB, Cam Newton, in Week 3. His former head coach Ron Rivera thinks the Patriots are getting a player who has still yet to reach his full potential.
"“They’re getting a guy that I think that hasn’t quite really, truly tapped his potential,” Rivera said at the NFL Annual Meeting this past weekend, via the Boston Herald. “He’s showed it, he flashed it in the Super Bowl. Again, if they can get him back to that point, I think they can get a very explosive pass rusher.”"
Chalk up another W in the win column for the New England Patriots who get off to a qucik 4-0 start.
2nd Quarter (4-0)
Week 5: Thursday, Oct. 5th @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 8:25 PM on CBS/NFL Network/Amazon (W)
Week 6: Sunday, October 15th @ New York Jets at 1 PM on CBS (W)
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 22nd vs Atlanta Falcons at 8:30 PM on NBC (W)
Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 29 vs Los Angeles Chargers at 1 PM on CBS (W)
The Patriots second and third primetime games come up during this stretch. The first will be on the road in Tampa Bay for a Thursday Night Football showdown with the Buccaneers. The Bucs do have quite the trio with Jameis Winston, Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson, but I don’t think they have what it takes just yet to take down the best team in the AFC. Many think the Bucs will be a playoff team this season though. This game, on a short week, could be closer than some fans expect, but New England will find a way to win it.
In Week 6 the Patriots get their first AFC East game of the year on the road in New York.
The Jets, as always, are a mess. Their QB situation is once again murky. Right now their options are Josh McCown, Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty. The Jets could also draft a QB with their 6th overall pick, someone like Patrick Mahomes, Mitch Trubisky or DeShaun Watson While all may develop into top quarterbacks in the NFL, they aren’t taking down Tom Brady as a rookie.
In Week 7 the Super Bowl LI rematch finally arrives. Since the miraculous February 5th comeback made by the Patriots, this is the game fans across the nation have been waitin for. Both teams have retained their nucleous of core players, while also adding some new pieces. This one should be close again, and at home surrounded by their fans New England should win again.
The Los Angeles Chargers are a joke, they won’t contend in the AFC or even the AFC West. This is an easy, lopsided win for the Patriots.
3rd Quarter (3-1)
Week 9: BYE
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 12th @ Denver Broncos at 8:30 PM on NBC (W)
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 19th @ Oakland Raider in Mexico City at 4:25 PM on CBS (L)
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 26th vs Miami Dolphins at 1 PM on CBS (W)
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 3rd @ Buffalo Bills at 1 PM on CBS (W)
New England begins the 3rd quarter of their 2017 season with back-to-back AFC West clashes on the road. In a primetime matchup the Patriots head into Denver for Week 10. Denver is not the same team without Peyton Manning, and though they do have a strong defense, the tools added by New England will be too much. In fact, I think Dwayne Allen could break out here. The Broncos will be focused on Rob Gronkowski, so Allen may fly under the radar and have a huge game.
The first loss of the season will come in Week 11. I expect the Patriots to stay on the west coast ahead of their game with the Raiders in Mexico City. Somehow, I see that backfiring. The Denver game will be a grind, and though the Patriots should win, they may be out of gas in the Mexican altitude. The Raiders matchup will be a close game, a hard fought one, but I think Oakland eaks out the W.
New England bounces back with two straight AFC East wins. One on at home againts the Dolphins and the second in Buffalo against the Bills.
The Patriots should be sitting pretty atop the AFC with an 11-1 record through Week 13.
4th Quarter (2-2)
Week 14: Monday, Dec. 11th @ Miami Dolphins at 8:30 PM on ESPN (L)
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 17th @ Pittsburgh Steelers at 4:25 PM on CBS (W)
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 24th vs Buffalo Bills at 1 PM on CBS (W)
Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 31st vs New York Jets at 1 PM on CBS (L)
2-2 over the last four!? Yes, just hear me out. The Miami Dolphins always put up a fight against the Patriots, especially when the game is towards the end of the year and in Miami. This will be a clunker for New England, and some fans and media will negin to panic. Just breathe. The Patriots always bounce back stronger from those types of losses.
The next week, the Patriots head to Pittsburgh and will earn a tough win on the road. Feel better now? New England is still the best team in the AFC, and they are going to prove it. They finish the year with holiday games in Foxboro. Though they could easily win both, I think home field advantage will be wrapped up in Week 16, so Week 17 is a time for rest. Brady will barely play. Same news with most of the Patriots starters. The road to the Super Bowl in the AFC will go through New England once again.
The Bottom Line (13-3)
New England still runs the AFC. I think at 13-3 they will lock up home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
In the rest of the AFC I think the Raiders will win the West, the Steelers will win the North and the Titans will win the South. Buffalo and Kansas City have the best shots at winning the wild card spots, in my opinion.
The Raiders should beat the Chiefs in the wildcard round, and Tennessee should beat Buffalo.
Potentially, this would set up New England and Tennessee for the Divisonal Round. However, I think it will be the Patriots and Steelers in the AFC Championship game once again, in Foxboro.
Next: New England Patriots Mock Draft 3.0 With Trades
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