NEW ARTICLE: Are the Patriots Possibly AFC Championship Contenders? Suddenly, it's Not as Crazy as it Sounds

[Steve102]

 

[patsfanfromoversea]

Went 7-9 last year with a tougher schedule and were really close to 9-7. The schedule this year looks easier on paper and the roster way better even before the draft. I hope Cam is better in his second year but this team will be really competitive for the Playoffs. The division won't be easy but team is looking good. Some other teams lost a step. I'll think of football in january as it stands right now. With 1-3 Players via draft I feel good.

 

[BennyBledsoe]

It's still fairly crazy. From what I saw, Cam has broken down physically and cannot direct a passing game, even with more talented targets.

 

[Simpelton]

Without a QB and we can’t give Cam the benefit of the doubt until he shows otherwise - improved but still not a playoff team IMO. That’s ok. I’m expecting playoffs and a team whose window is about to open in 2022.

What do you think a playoff team is?

We're a playoff team this year in the same way the Colts have been in recent years -- a wild card contender in a competitive division.

 

[NormZauchin]

It's one thing to expect significant improvement from a young quarterback with only a season or two under his belt, but to hold the same expectations for a veteran like Cam is little more than wishful thinking.

 

[PatsWSB47]

BB went from best, to worst, to best again all over the course of one season... lol

They find their QB in the draft and it’s checkmate.

I'd be thrilled but I'm pumping the brakes a bit more

 

[RIpats88]

It's one thing to expect significant improvement from a young quarterback with only a season or two under his belt, but to hold the same expectations for a veteran like Cam is little more than wishful thinking.

I think he will be better. otherwise Bill wouldn't have brought him back. now this is nothing from what I saw on my couch but only putting faith in Bill. he saw what we did last year and still decided to bring cam back. so either he is losing it, or what he saw in practice has him believe cam really isnt done and with a full offseason and better talent he can improve.

Either way, this roster isnt built for Cam newton. its built for a QB not yet on this team who will likely sit this year..

 

[1960Pats]

Not until we have a real QB.

We're in better shape than we were a week ago but QB is still a big question mark.
On a more promising note, Stidham is doing a Pats camp out west and Cam and some of the new players are joining him.

 

[1960Pats]

Or not... I don't think you spend this much cash to then hand it over to someone you didn't even have enough faith in to start over Hoyer or Cam

Brady sat behind other QB's when he started out here and only came in when Drew got hurt.

 

[patsinthesnow]

They have a playoff caliber roster & are a pain in the ass for the best team in the conference. That’s a start.

The Chiefs are something like 21-2 since 2019 with Mahomes, Hill, Kelce & Watkins playing. The two losses are 38-35 to the Titans and the superbowl.

The pats played them twice in that span to 23-16 & effectively 19-10 losses. Tyreek Hill is averaging close to 4 rec for 56 yards in the 3 matchups since they switched up to man.

It’s yet to be seen how BB can defend the improved Josh Allen with a front 7 that doesn’t suck (Gilmore was also missing from both matchups). Considering 2018-2019 it wouldn’t surprise me if the D can rattle him.

In summary:

They are likely a playoff team on their own.
Their defense poses problems for the top team in the conference & a good chance against the second.
The Colts, Titans, Ravens, Dolphins & Steelers have all had underwhelming offseasons. The Browns are the browns.

Anywhere from the 3rd-7th in the conference almost a week into FA is already an improvement from last year.

 

[1960Pats]

It's still fairly crazy. From what I saw, Cam has broken down physically and cannot direct a passing game, even with more talented targets.

He has other shortcomings too. If the Pats make a run at an AFC title they'll do it in spite of Cam.

 

[BTTA]

It's one thing to expect significant improvement from a young quarterback with only a season or two under his belt, but to hold the same expectations for a veteran like Cam is little more than wishful thinking.

Under normal circumstances, yes. There are differences to this situation, that may of may not make the difference:

• COVID eliminating much prep and learning time - before and during the season
• Cam had COVID. Having had it, I can testify that it can mess with your cognitive and cardio functioning for months, in ways you can't anticipate until they happen. I was a little foggy brained for about 12 weeks (as my wife would say, "even more so than usual.")
• Cam's passing was terribly inconsistent. How that is explained is at the root of most optimistic and pessimistic predictions for this year.
• There was literally not a single receiving weapon that caused a defense to scheme for, or even rotate coverages in favor of. Not a single one. That's changed dramatically.
• The running game will be even better, allowing more favorable passing situations.
• Cam is determined and smart, more so than most QB's.

So we might get significant improvement. We might not. I'm very happy to wait and see.

 

[NYCPATS4LIFE]

I wish carr would asked for a trade. I would trade for him.

 

[BTTA]

The pats played them twice in that span to 23-16 & effectively 19-10 losses. Tyreek Hill is averaging close to 4 rec for 56 yards in the 3 matchups since they switched up to man.

It’s yet to be seen how BB can defend the improved Josh Allen with a front 7 that doesn’t suck (Gilmore was also missing from both matchups). Considering 2018-2019 it wouldn’t surprise me if the D can rattle him.

Like this. Buffalo might improve a little in the coming year, but they are the same team, so I don't see them improving a lot. The Pats OTOH, will improve a lot, on both sides of the ball. Adding Gilmore, 3 very good LB's, improved play from the young LB's, a solid interior line...I'm looking forward to this.

 

[NashuaPats]

Under normal circumstances, yes. There are differences to this situation, that may of may not make the difference:

• COVID eliminating much prep and learning time - before and during the season
• Cam had COVID. Having had it, I can testify that it can mess with your cognitive and cardio functioning for months, in ways you can't anticipate until they happen. I was a little foggy brained for about 12 weeks (as my wife would say, "even more so than usual.")
• Cam's passing was terribly inconsistent. How that is explained is at the root of most optimistic and pessimistic predictions for this year.
• There was literally not a single receiving weapon that caused a defense to scheme for, or even rotate coverages in favor of. Not a single one. That's changed dramatically.
• The running game will be even better, allowing more favorable passing situations.
• Cam is determined and smart, more so than most QB's.

So we might get significant improvement. We might not. I'm very happy to wait and see.

This is what I’m curious about with Cam and slightly hopeful. After the first three games, most here were excited about him and were already talking about him getting a huge extension. Then COVID happened and he wasn’t the same. Maybe it was a coincidence. But if he was just slightly foggy headed having difficulty focusing, that would make a huge difference. A QB has to process a lot of information very quickly while under pressure.

 

[Wozzy]

I'd be thrilled but I'm pumping the brakes a bit more

Allow me to rephrase... if the Patriots find a good/great QB in the draft it's checkmate.

Assuming health they're battling the Bills for the AFC East and are definitely in the playoffs.

 

[Brewskies]

I'll believe it when I see it. II wouldn't say I likeStidham and don't think he has what it takes to be an NFL QB.

It won't be long before we find out if you are correct. I was not saying he would get the job. I was reporting what Palmer, the QB consultant for the Pats, said about Stidham, who he is working with.

 

[Hyped]

Wow...what a bunch of pessimistic wimps in this thread!

The roster, as presently constructed, is a 11 win team with Cam at the helm and no major injuries, IMO.

I am just not sure that is enough for winning the AFC East and getting the lone BYE, but this team is going to the post-season....and likely divisional weekend.

 

[Ollie]

Brady sat behind other QB's when he started out here and only came in when Drew got hurt.

Exactly Brady came in for Drew, Stidham didn't come in for Cam. Hence clearly Bill preferred Hoyer over stidham. When Bledsoe was hurt he preffered Brady. So Bill trusted brady in that situation and didn't trust Stidham.

 

[Nikolai]

With last year's roster and with last year's Cam, this team was 7-9, with four losses coming with the ball in hand, first down, fourth quarter, in opponent territory. This year's schedule isn't as brutal and the rest of the roster is upgraded significantly. With even modest improvement in Cam's game or league-average production out of whatever QB we go with, this team is at worst 9-7 and likely better.