Following a bye week, the New England Patriots look to get down to business heading into the toughest stretch of their 2019 NFL season.
How desperately does the rest of the NFL want to see Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots knocked off their throne?
Well, the Week 11 NFL Power Rankings says it all. The team loses a game on the road to a very good Baltimore Ravens team and they slide just about out of the top 5 in most people’s rankings.
Where is the love for a team that only lost its first game of the season?
Well, an easy early schedule is what most will point to. Raising up to No. 3 in the NFL.com power rankings, the Patriots will have a chance to flex their muscles against some of the more talented teams in the NFL in the next four weeks.
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Then, and only then, will they prove they are the team to beat in the NFL.
As of right now, the flavors of this week and last week are the San Francisco 49ers at No. 1 despite losing in overtime at home to the Seattle Seahawks and the Baltimore Ravens at No. 2.
If anything, the Ravens should’ve slipped into that No. 1 spot after what they did against the Patriots, followed up by their dominance the following week against the lowly Cincinnati Bengals.
The biggest risers this week were the Pittsburgh Steelers who jumped five spots to No. 12 after a victory over the Los Angeles Rams. The biggest fall were Matt Patricia’s Detroit Lions who fell five spots to No. 24 after losing a one-score game to the Chicago Bears in Week 10.
The Good
The good for the New England Patriots is actually having two weeks to think about that loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
It was not only a wakeup call for the players on both sides of the ball, but a wakeup call for the coaches. We all know no coach better prepares his team during a bye week than Bill Belichick.
Here is what NFL.com writer Dan Hanzus had to say about the next tough stretch of games:
"“Yes, Patriot Way was shaken out of its Pleasantville-like existence, but let’s all remember that hell hath no fury like Bill Belichick coming off a loss and a bye. New England is 14-5 in post-bye games during the Belichick Dynasty. The Eagles draw the tough assignment — they’re the first of four straight opponents with winning records to face the defending champions.”"
The New England Patriots typically play their best football in November and December. With 2019 first-round pick N’Keal Harry set to make his debut, Tom Brady will have another weapon to get the ball to. The return of left tackle Isaiah Wynn should also help the offense moving forward.
Defensively, Belichick’s boys will be hungry to prove the 30 points they gave up to Lamar Jackson and the Ravens was just a fluke.
The Bad
The toughest part of the New England Patriots schedule is coming up. Depending how they prepared in during their time off could make this a good or bad stretch.
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What we do know is that the next four games going up against Carsen Wentz, Dak Prescott, Patrick Mahomes II and Deshaun Watson will definitely challenge the defense.
Not only will the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans try to mimic portions of what the Baltimore Ravens did, each of those teams will be pumped up to see how they measure against the defending Super Bowl champions while trying to knock them off.
With an 8-1 record, the Patriots do have some breathing room to lose one or perhaps even two of those games. Depending how they lose, if they lose, could tell the tale of the team’s fate going into the playoffs.
If they lose in the fashion, they lost to the Ravens by getting gashed in the run game, then there will be a blueprint out there on how to attack this defense.
In all, it could fall on the shoulders of Tom Brady and an inconsistent passing game. If that ends up being the case, it may not be very good unless that man who once wore No. 87 decides to return to the game.
That’s Rob Gronkowski by the way, not Ben Coates.
The Necessary
With the talent the New England Patriots have on the defensive side of the ball, there is no doubt they will be fine.
Offensively is where the team has to find some consistency and continuity. The trio of Julian Edelman, Mohamed Sanu and James White should provide Tom Brady with secure outlets he can get the ball to quickly.
He also needs to feel confident in his offensive line. Once Isaiah Wynn does return, there should be more pass protection. But, what about the running game?
With tougher opponents coming up and colder weather, it is a necessity that Sony Michel gets going. He has to find the holes and just attack. If he doesn’t start to show the player he was down the stretch and into the playoffs last season, the Patriots do have other options and it won’t be a surprise if Bill Belichick explores those options.
Along with Rex Burkhead and Brandon Bolden, 2019 third-round pick Damien Harris is hungry for playing time. With his power running and ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, he could be the spark the team needs in the running game.
In summary, the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball will determine how far this team can and will go. Stopping the run and finding their own run game will be the X-factor for the New England Patriots as December rolls around.