New England Patriots could either have a 5-12 or 12-5 season in 2023
The New England Patriots 2023 schedule is out and by all indications, it’s not going to be an easy sled ride for the Patriots this season. The Patriots now live in the once powder-puff but now very formidable AFC East.
There are no “gimmes” there anymore, quite the opposite. Every game will be a struggle and the former doormats, the New York Jets now can roll out a consensus first-ballot Hall of Fame Quarterback in Aaron Rodgers.
The days of automatic AFC East titles are way in the rearview mirror as they have been since the team ushered (aka kicked) the greatest quarterback ever, Tom Brady out the door.
In addition to the AFC East, they also have last year’s two Super Bowl teams on the schedule in Kansas City and Philadelphia, and lots of other tough teams.
One top pundit has put a possible 12-5 season for the Patriots on the table. Let’s take a look at that prospect.
New England Patriots look like a last-place team
That pundit is none other than one of the very best, Tom E. Curran of NBC Sports. Curran put that potential record on the table in plain sight.
Here’s what Tom said as reported by sport.yahoo.com:
"“I’m bullish on the Patriots in 2023. They’re going to win 10, 11 or maybe even 12 games. They’re going to be a good football team.”"
He goes on to state that he thinks they’ll beat the Jets early and that the Buffalo Bills have experienced a decline. Don’t really see much of a decline.
The Bills have one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL in Josh Allen. The New England Patriots don’t. Buffalo also added two top offensive rookies.
They are tight end, Dalton Kincaid of Utah, maybe the best tight end in a deep class, and gargantuan offensive guard, Cyrus O’Torrence from Florida. Can’t see much offensive fall-off there.
The New England Patriots meanwhile are counting on an Offensive Coordinator to improve the team by leaps and bounds. It’s a nice thought, but Bill O’Brien isn’t likely to carry or catch a ball, throw a pass, or block anyone for you.
Patriots poor offseason will cost them
Good teams, championship teams, and even competitive teams are built in the off-season. The New England Patriots not only failed miserably to truly improve their weak offensive tackle position, a flaw that is inescapable, but they also neglected to add a No. One receiver or any young tight end at all.
Additionally, the team will ostensibly rely on an immobile quarterback with Mac Jones the presumptive starter or Bailey Zappe. Neither can escape a rush.
Absent the shocking elevation of their very nice undrafted free agent signing, electric dual-threat QB Malik Cunningham from Louisville, the flaws in the offensive line’s tackle depth will ultimately be devastating.
Disclaimer: Along with the JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mike Gesicki signings heartily lauded in this space, the most exciting addition is Cunningham.
Want your voice heard? Join the Chowder And Champions team!
So while the Patriots defense should be improved with the additions of two top draft picks on defense, cornerback Christian Gonzalez and edge Keion White, the offense is ticketed to be the worst in the division.
The 2022 problem was the offense and not enough was done to make it much better, especially when they lost their second-best running back Damian Harris to Buffalo, no less.
So, the likely outcome and prediction here is this. The New England Patriots are a last-place team in the AFC East and their record will be closer to 5-12 than the 12-5 that Tom Curran predicted.
New England Patriots either nailed or failed their offensive line fix. dark. Next
Most likely, they’ll win 7-9 games and may or may not slip into a Wild Card playoff spot at best, or fall completely out of the picture at worst. We’ll see what happens and who’s closer to the actual, Tom E. Curran or this space.
Frankly, Curran is a much better bet by miles, and eating crow is a familiar experience in this space. If right, you become a prognosticator, if wrong your team is playing well (a good thing!) and you eat a bit of crow. (Been there and done that, tastes like chicken.)
As they say, that’s why they play the games. It should be an interesting ride.