Key NFL Question No. 2: Will the Patriots Make Another Run at an Unbeaten Season?
My thought:
No.
They still have Tom Brady. They re-signed Randy Moss. Coach Bill Belichick undoubtedly will use the Super Bowl defeat to the Giants and the uproar over the Spygate scandal to create an us-against-the-world resolve to contribute to another championship run. The schedule is far from overwhelming.
But what the Patriots did last season was a once-in-a-generation thing, and it won't happen again. Their defense was weakened by the departure of Asante Samuel. Put them down for 12 or 13 regular season wins. Pencil them in as a leading Super Bowl contender again. But don't count on another run at 19-0.
By Mark Maske |
July 8, 2008; 4:10 PM ET
| Category:
Patriots
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Next: Key NFL Question No. 3: Can the Giants Repeat?
Posted by: ah | July 8, 2008 5:03 PM
I'm so tired of the Favre story and this is your number 2 big NFL question. Who cares. 1. Year in and year out we have sleepers and no shows. 2. They lost the Super Bowl, none of the other wins matter.
If this is really the second biggest question around the league, then the NFL is really going south, and quick.
Posted by: WaPoLiveFan16 | July 9, 2008 11:40 AM
Towards the end of the season, the pats had some close calls. I think teams figured out how to play them. They will be a good team, but I don't think they will go undefeated. Also, I would think based on last year's experience, they probably wouldn't want to have to carry that burden.
Posted by: Allen | July 10, 2008 10:28 AM
Alot of hype! Take the Kansas City game on 9/7 and go from there. 19-0 isn't important, its more media than The Patriots, and they'd be better off without it.
Posted by: caphcky | July 10, 2008 1:14 PM
Alot of hype! Take the Kansas City game on 9/7 and go from there. 19-0 isn't important, its more media than The Patriots, and they'd be better off without it.
Posted by: caphcky | July 10, 2008 1:14 PM
Defense? Did someone say defense?
They averaged 37 points a GAME last year! Over 400 years a GAME!
Yeah, they'll make another run at it.
Posted by: DanPatrick | July 10, 2008 3:56 PM
Actually, the Patriots will go 11-5. (+/- 1 win)
In 1991, the Niners missed the playoffs after three straight NFC championship games.
The Steelers went 9-7 in 1980.
I don't think they'll fade quite so quickly, but they're already on the decline. Nothing against them. You just don't stay at the top forever. Something - be it an injury to Brady, a nasty contract dispute, or some other random occurance knocks you down.
Posted by: spectre | July 11, 2008 2:25 PM
No NO NO
They needed the help of the officiating crew in the Philly game, Baltimore game and Giants Game.....they should of went 13-3 last year...but then again, it made the Super Bowl that much sweeter when they lost.
Posted by: Anti Patriots Fan | July 11, 2008 3:20 PM
take a look at the schedule,then ask yourself if you think the pats will run the ball more this year,the offense will look completely different,and there is a definete chance at a 19-0 season,because im so sick of seeing the old man dolphin team come on tv and whine every time a team comes close,and for the record,what the pats did last year was waaaaay more impressive than what the dolphins did,they only played two games against teams with winning records and only won 14 games,if you ask me,they demolished what the dolphins did,oh ya,and theyre the worst uniforms in the league,a dolphin with a helmet on,you gotta be kidding me!!
Posted by: dont be a hater | July 19, 2008 7:14 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
I'd say no simply because it's so unlikely, but then I look at their easiest-in-the-league schedule and say that it's a realistic possibility.
that said, they have to play at San Diego and Indy (both at night), and you never know how some other teams may improve.
If they beat Indy to go 8-0 then I think they do it again. Just look at their 2d half schedule: Buff x2, Jets, Miami, Ariz., Oakland, Seattle, and Pitt. Only the last two are decent teams.