New England Patriots: What’s in the way of another 16-0 season

Why a 16-0 season is once again on the horizon for the New England Patriots with a deep, talented defense and the addition of star wide receiver Antonio Brown.

With the loaded roster we have all been raving about, the pipe dream of the New England Patriots finishing the regular season without a loss has been murmured by few Patriots fans.

With a comparable team on paper to 2007, could it actually be done again? Here’s how it could happen, and here’s how it won’t.

Why it will happen:

The defending Super Bowl champions employ one of the best looking offenses on paper, and without a doubt one of the best defenses in the league. If you want a cheap enough answer, here it is.

More from Chowder and Champions

• 3 Midseason Chaim Bloom Decisions That Have Killed the 2023 Red Sox
• 10 Patriots Who Will Be Cut by Tuesday’s Roster Deadline
• MLB Screws Red Sox Fans With Broadcast for Mookie Betts Return
• 3 Most Underpaid Celtics Heading Into the 2023 Season
• Red Sox Continue Rollercoaster Season With Massive Win

The New England Patriots will likely be better from a roster standpoint than all 16 opponents they face. But before you stampede, obviously football and any sport in general go way beyond that.

You could imagine that some Patriots fans do not want to carry that burden into the playoffs again. The last time it happened in 2007, I think we all know the result. But with that being said, it has been done before by the ’72 Dolphins.

The NFL was much different then, and less competitive and complex as it is today but still an all time feat. Could the Pats re-write their own history?

The Patriots do not face a team that made the playoffs last season the first eight weeks of the year. So expect the Pats to be on an early season roll.

Another reason you could expect the perfection year is because Bill Belichick is the best coach in the league when it comes to game preparation, and taking things one week at a time. Despite last seasons in-success in the month of December which is considered to be the hardest time of the year to get wins.

During Tom Brady‘s era with the New England Patriots, they post a 61-13 record in December.

Why it won’t happen:

Yes, the Patriots may have one of the best looking teams in the NFL, but the odds of them completing perfection just isn’t in their favor.

In the last few seasons, the Patriots have dropped some ugly performances on teams not that noteworthy. Just last season, they lost to the Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions, both teams that did not make the playoffs.

You also don’t know if players like Josh Gordon or Antonio Brown will be able to stay on the field for the season. Their recent uncertainty might continue at some point that could wind them to free agency or suspension.

Take a real good look at the strength of teams on the second half of the schedule. After Week 7, a treacherous five-week span awaits that could really hurt the Patriots. Week 8 opens with a matchup with the new look Browns in Gillette. Then the Patriots go to Baltimore for a primetime matchup against Lamar Jackson‘s Ravens.

Then two weeks of facing the NFC East’s best, first in Philadelphia against the Eagles, then back in Foxboro against Dak and Zeke‘s Cowboys the week following. It keeps going, traveling to Houston for Sunday primetime against an AFC threat Texans.

To cap it off, how about another battle with the MVP Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. If the Patriots can fend off for a 3-2 record during this stretch, that would sit just fine with many Pats fans.

You can dream the almost impossible… but if the Patriots can merge all their new weapons the right way, could it be possible? Do you think the New England Patriots have what it takes?