Who are you saying will be significantly better next year -- Pats or Ravens? If it's the Pats, why?
I think both teams will be significantly better. Of course there are some assumptions that have to made.
Here are the Pats assumptions
1. All or most of our own FA's are resigned. Revis and McCourty are musts
2. Dobson becomes a healthy and productive WR
3. Easley comes back healthy and more explosive
4. At least one of Moore or Buchannon develop well enough to become an effective #3 DE
5. BB successfully continues the interior OL rebuild and we upgrade at least one of the OG's through FA or the draft.
Here are the Ravens assumptions. Its smaller because I don't know the team as well.
1. There OL injuries will ultimately give them more depth and experience at the position next season
2. They need to continue to get younger
3. Get back all their injured DB's
Right, as of this moment the Pats are a few pieces on the OL and DL away from being a very deep and talented team. If we get most of the important pieces back, I think we can fill those needs this off season. Its not like we have a bad OL, just not a great one, but I don't think we are far away. Its not like we have a bad DL, but I'm hoping that Easley can give us an interior push we didn't have this year, and the if Buchannon, Moore, and Dobson all develop closer to their potentials, we will be deeper on the DL and WR.
Then if that talent can form the kind of cohesive mentally tough team like this year's will have a great chance to be even better
I think the Ravens will also improve but not to the level of our team. mostly because they have no Gronk, and we will have more overall top to bottom depth. But they are the team I would project to replace Denver as our biggest threat along with the Colts who will continue to get better as well.
Please understand this is superficial overview. Lots of things can change by next July