There is no doubt that the New England Patriots will win plenty of games this season, but there are some tough matchups throughout the schedule.
The regular season continues to inch closer. The New England Patriots will play their 3rd preseason game and are looking like they are primed for another great season.
The Patriots will be at the top of the AFC once again. They should win at least 11 games. Until Tom Brady and Bill Belichick retire they will be the top team in the AFC.
Now even though the Patriots will be winning a lot of games, it doesn’t mean that everyone will be a cakewalk. The Patriots have some matchups that will probably result in some thrilling finishes. Hopefully, Stephen Gostkowski doesn’t struggle like he did last season.
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So here are the 3 toughest matchups of the 2018 season.
Week 2 at Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars gave a good effort in the AFC Championship last season. The Patriots were able to defeat the Jaguars with some great defense by Stephon Gilmore, but that doesn’t mean the Patriots will dominate them in the regular season.
The Jaguars have one of the best defenses in the NFL. Jalen Ramsey is one of the best cornerbacks in the league. He intercepted 4 passes last season and can shut down the top receivers in the NFL.
The Jaguars also have a solid front 7 led by Calais Campbell, Myles Jack, and Marcell Dareus.
With Julian Edelman out for the game due to his suspension, the Patriots offense will be challenged a lot.
Week 9 vs Green Bay Packers
This will be an offensive shootout. When you have the two best quarterbacks in the NFL you are bound to have a good game.
Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers have only met once during their careers. The Packers defeated the Patriots 26-21 and Rodgers threw for 368 yards and 2 touchdowns.
The Packers may have lost Jordy Nelson, but their offense will still be great. Randall Cobb and Davante Adams are quality wideouts, and the Packers picked up Jimmy Graham in the offseason. Graham has struggled recently, but he is still a player that defenses need to pay attention too.
It will definitely be a tough game for the Patriots. New England’s secondary struggled last season which they can’t versus the Packers. If the secondary struggles, it will be impossible for the Patriots to win.
Hopefully, the Patriots will show who has the true G.O.A.T. at quarterback by having a dominant game in week 9.
Week 15 at Pittsburgh Steelers
The last regular season game in Pittsburgh ended in controversy. Fans once again had to ask what is a catch after Jesse James dived towards the end zone causing the ball to hit the ground.
No matter what you think about the rule the Patriots came out on top and took home the victory.
The Steelers defense may not be as great as it once was, but the offense is still scoring at a high rate. Antonio Brown is one of the best wideouts in the league, and even though he loves to holdout in the offseason, Le’Veon Bell is an amazing running back.
Once again this will be another test for the Patriots defense. The front 7 will need to stop Bell before he gets going in the backfield. Also, Stephon Gilmore will be given the tough task of shutting down Brown.
The Patriots could lose all of these games, but that is pretty unlikely. I expect the Patriots to come out of these games 2-1. With Julian Edelman out in Week 2, I think the Jaguars will come out on top.
You should mark these games on your calendar because they are going to be a doozy.