Predicted record: 9-7.
The Patriots' embarrassing 33-14 wild-card loss to the Ravens, in which they yielded 234 yards on the ground, served to expose just how far removed the team was from its glory days, which effectively ran up until it shocking, undefeated season-killing Super Bowl loss to the Giants in February 2008. This year's team is very different from that 18-1 iteration -- just 18 players remain from that season (not counting Ty Warren or the holding-out guard Logan Mankins). While the defense features a fair amount of young talent (like rookie inside linebacker Brandon Spikes, the former Florida Gator) with the potential to quickly develop, it is the offense that will bear the brunt of the Patriots' load. The offense, however, is talented enough to lead New England to a potential wild-card berth.