VJCPatriot

Pats strength of schedule this year is only .504. That ties for 15th in the NFL despite them finishing with the top record in the NFL in 2010. (Reported on ESPN). This is ALSO the weakest strength of the schedule in the entire division. Yes, an even easier road than the Jets, Bills, or Dolphins have to face.

Factor into that strength of schedule that the Pats drafted players at positions that have less of a transition, ie the lockout will affect them the least if training camp starts late, and you have an advantage coming right out of the gate.

2011 Draft:
Two RBs - easily the easiest position to translate into the NFL.
Two OL - fairly easy transition coupled with one of the best offensive line coaches in the game once they do make it into camp.
One QB - will hold the clipboard for years with no expectation to start.
One CB - one of the easiest transition positions on defense in the NFL. Not nearly as difficult to learn as a linebacker in the Pats defense.

Now combine the above advantage with the easiest schedule in the AFC East. What's not to like? Taking those factors into account, I see a minimum of 12 wins for the Pats in 2011. Another 14 wins is not out of the question either.

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AzPatsFan

How is it the easiest schedule in the AFCE? They all play a common schedule except for two games. In those game the Pats as a first place finisher get the first place finishers in the other AFC divisions and it goes down the line Jets 2nd place finisher, get 2nd place teams, Dolphins 3rd and Bills 4th. Other wise the schedules are identical...

Oswlek

The Patriots have a harder SOS than the other teams in the AFCE because those guys have to face a 14-2 juggernaut twice!

(though a flawed 14-2 juggernaut with no pass rush and no deep threat that will be lucky to win 8 games in 2012, according to a lot of the commentary on this board)

SOS based on last year's records is meaningless. Unless someone really thinks the Vikings were one of the 4 best teams in the league in 2010, and that Cincy was a playoff contender

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"They have one objective," said Washington cornerback Shawn Springs. "They whoop people's [backsides]. If you understand that, it answers all your questions. They might not lose [this year]."

jmt57

The reason the Pats schedule ranks as being 'easier' is because ... the Pats don't play the Pats - but the other teams on their schedule do. I realize that sounds like I'm stating the obvious, but it is something tends to be overlooked whenever the topic of strength of schedule comes up. It also one of many reasons that while strength of schedule discussions are fun, they shouldn't be taken too seriously either.

PYPER

You beat me to it.

Consider the Bills/Patriots comparison.
For Buffalo, their two games vs the Pats boosts there strength of schedule b/c it adds 28 wins and only 4 losses (14-2 X 2) whereas those same two games actually brings down the Patriots SoS b/c it adds only 8 wins vs 24 losses (4-12 X 2).

In other words, in the 14 other games the Patriots and Bills play, the Patriots SoS could be 19 games harder than Buffalo's but when you add in the head-to-head matches, the result is a 20 game swing to their respective totals.

This is why this method of evaluating SoS is flawed. It needs to be broken down into greater detail.

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2012-2013 The Fight for Four Continues

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
SUPER BOWL XXXVI, XXXVIII, & XXXIX CHAMPIONS

eom

Why would you hoe a road?
aren't they usually a street corner item?

supafly

Drum, drum--(rimshot) cymbals...

supafly

There's an awful lot to like about the chances in the upcoming season. As someone who rarely ever gets amped up or excited, I am finding it hard to contain myself when looking ahead. Maybe there's actually some optimism in me afterall??

All that said, I do agree that SOS is somewhat flawed, as described by PYPER. 2 games vs common opponents can really swing the numbers in our favor, however your overall point is much agreed upon here. A .504 SOS is still a .504, which obviously bodes well for our team. I do expect the usual though--and I say the same thing every year...a loss on the road, a loss in the division, a loss at home, and an 'unexpected' loss (a la CLE last yr) are pretty much what I have grown accustomed to expecting.

I will agree that if I had to make a prediction today, that I wouldn't see why 12-4 is not a realistic goal.

TriplecHamp

only on Patsfans.com can playing the NFC east and resurgent AFC west along with the likes of Indy and Pittsburgh be an "easy rode"

AzPatsFan

Don't pick on the guy too badly. That is because he messed up the metaphor. It should have been... a tough Row [of corn], to Hoe...

I saw someone the other day mix metaphors and say "...that train sailed a long time ago..."