"Experts" Patriots season predictions thread

[sb1]

Peter King: Pats as the #5 seed, beat Browns then lose to the Chiefs in the division round.
Breer: Pats #6 seed, lose WC game to the Browns
Vrentas: Pats #2 seed, beat Ravens and Bills, lose AFCCG to the Chiefs
Orr: Pats #3 seed, beat Colts, lose to Browns in divisional
Rosenberg: Pats #2 seed, beat Titans and Browns, lose AFCCG to Chiefs
Bishop: Pats miss playoffs
Brandt: Pats miss playoffs
Gramling: Pats lose WC game to Bills
Goldich: Pats miss playoffs

Will add more as I find them

 

[sb1]

Sportingnews
Iyer: Pats 8-9, miss playoffs

 

[sb1]

CBSSports.com
Pats 10-7, #5 seed, lose to Pitt in the WC round

 

[sb1]

538
Pats 9-8. 43% chance to make playoffs, 2% to win SB

 

[sb1]

USA today
2/7 experts have Pats winning AFCE, 3/7 have Pats being a WC team. 3/7 have Mac Jones as OROY. 1 has BB COTY.

 

[sb1]

Bleacher report: Pats 11-6

 

[borg]

Sportingnews
Iyer: Pats 8-9, miss playoffs

Didn't know Sporting News was still a viable operation.

Regarding there 8 win prediction, I have NE guaranteed to win 8 games....
Miami (wk 1)
Jets
Houston
Jets
Chargers
Carolina
Atlanta
Jacksonville

Therefore, BB and company will have to go 1-8 vs the rest of their unimposing schedule

 

[Sicilian]

Games I would be surprised if they LOST:
at NYJ
at Hou
vs. NYJ
vs. Jax

Games I think they should win, but won't be shocked either way:
vs. Mia
vs. NO
vs. Dal
at Car
at Atl
at Ind

Games I think they should lose, but won't be shocked either way:
at LAC
vs. Cle
vs. Ten
vs. Buf
at Mia

Games I would be surprised if they WIN:
vs. TB
at Buf

 

[mgcolby]

I think the floor is 9 wins and the ceiling is 13 by winning all the games they should and sneaking a win in one they shouldn't. I think 11 or 12 wins is the realistic reality.

 

[Le Numéro Douze]

Stephen A. Smith thinks we are the 5th best team in the league and will win the division over the Bills.

He is a clown, but I like how he thinks on that one

 

[Deus Irae]

I think the floor is 9 wins and the ceiling is 13 by winning all the games they should and sneaking a win in one they shouldn't. I think 11 or 12 wins is the realistic reality.

The Patriots should win more games than they "deserve", because of their schedule.

 

[amfootball]

I don't think 10 wins gets us in the playoffs. 11 at the minium.

I think a better exercise than record is naming what teams in the AFC are better than the Pats on paper:

Definitely:
Chiefs
Bills
Browns
Ravens
Titans

Maybe:
Pitt
Miami
Chargers
Colts

 

[mgcolby]

The Patriots should win more games than they "deserve", because of their schedule.

It is what it is. This is a talented roster. You play who they tell ya to. Control what you can control. If they get above average QB play this team will be a tough out irregardless of the opponent.

 

[Deus Irae]

It is what it is. This is a talented roster. You play who they tell ya to. Control what you can control. If they get above average QB play this team will be a tough out irregardless of the opponent.

Sure. There's nothing to be ashamed of when you look at your team schedule. It's not rigged, after all. I'm just noting that the Patriots are facing a lot of teams that are either straight bad or being led by young QBs.

Dolphins
Jets
Texans
Jets
Chargers
Panthers
Jaguars
Dolphins

Then you add teams with questionable QB situations, and teams that are in transition from turmoil

Saints
Colts
Cowboys


and you've got the kind of schedule that Patriots fans' playoff dreams are made of.


The Patriots really have only

Bucs
Browns
Titans
Bills
Bills

against clean teams. It's a schedule that the Patriots should be able to benefit from having.

 

[borg]

Gotta ask....
Why do so many on this board elevate the Chargers above NE considering the Cam lead semi-pro Patriots destroyed this team 45-0 last season?
From my lofty perch, it seems to me NE significantly upgraded 8 starters......
TE, TE, WR, WR, DT, OLB, ILB, and QB
(I view OL changes as a push)
(I expect Gilmore to play vs LAC in week 8)

How exactly have the 3-9 LAC of last year propelled themselves past NE this year?

 

[Sicilian]

Gotta ask....
Why do so many on this board elevate the Chargers above NE considering the Cam lead semi-pro Patriots destroyed this team 45-0 last season?
From my lofty perch, it seems to me NE significantly upgraded 8 starters......
TE, TE, WR, WR, DT, OLB, ILB, and QB
(I view OL changes as a push)
(I expect Gilmore to play vs LAC in week 8)

How exactly have the 3-9 LAC of last year propel themselves past NE this year?

Won't speak for everyone, but for my prediction it was less about who I think is the best team (and will have the best record), and more just it being a west coast trip against a team with a good QB who might actually pay attention to ST this year. It wouldn't shock me at all if we beat them, but when I look at our list of tough games, I include LAC because of the circumstances.

 

[mgcolby]

Gotta ask....
Why do so many on this board elevate the Chargers above NE considering the Cam lead semi-pro Patriots destroyed this team 45-0 last season?
From my lofty perch, it seems to me NE significantly upgraded 8 starters......
TE, TE, WR, WR, DT, OLB, ILB, and QB
(I view OL changes as a push)
(I expect Gilmore to play vs LAC in week 8)

How exactly have the 3-9 LAC of last year propel themselves past NE this year?

I have no idea. They upgraded their O-line. Herbert (who I like a lot) elevating his play in his 2nd season...but overall I have no idea.

 

[mgcolby]

Sure. There's nothing to be ashamed of when you look at your team schedule. It's not rigged, after all. I'm just noting that the Patriots are facing a lot of teams that are either straight bad or being led by young QBs.

Dolphins
Jets
Texans
Jets
Chargers
Panthers
Jaguars
Dolphins

Then you add teams with questionable QB situations, and teams that are in transition from turmoil

Saints
Colts
Cowboys


and you've got the kind of schedule that Patriots fans' playoff dreams are made of.


The Patriots really have only

Bucs
Browns
Titans
Bills
Bills

against clean teams. It's a schedule that the Patriots should be able to benefit from having.

Correct. And we agree on the 5 games I think will be tough. Plus the 3 games against a bit of the unknown and then the 9 **** teams. So if this team simply wins the games they should they ar 12-5. Split with the Bills that's 13. Combo that with a loss against the unknowns and it's back to 12.

It's a perfect storm for a really good season led by a rookie QB who can both gain experience and confidence while playing against inferior teams. This could be a really dangerous team coming out of it's by week.

 

[Rob0729]

Gotta ask....
Why do so many on this board elevate the Chargers above NE considering the Cam lead semi-pro Patriots destroyed this team 45-0 last season?
From my lofty perch, it seems to me NE significantly upgraded 8 starters......
TE, TE, WR, WR, DT, OLB, ILB, and QB
(I view OL changes as a push)
(I expect Gilmore to play vs LAC in week 8)

How exactly have the 3-9 LAC of last year propelled themselves past NE this year?

Although I don't know if I rank the Chargers ahead of the Patriots, but one game last season doesn't tell you much of anything. I think the Chargers have a decent amount of talent and if Herbert can take the next step in his development, they could be a wild card contender.

 

[Rob0729]

Sure. There's nothing to be ashamed of when you look at your team schedule. It's not rigged, after all. I'm just noting that the Patriots are facing a lot of teams that are either straight bad or being led by young QBs.

Dolphins
Jets
Texans
Jets
Chargers
Panthers
Jaguars
Dolphins

Then you add teams with questionable QB situations, and teams that are in transition from turmoil

Saints
Colts
Cowboys


and you've got the kind of schedule that Patriots fans' playoff dreams are made of.


The Patriots really have only

Bucs
Browns
Titans
Bills
Bills

against clean teams. It's a schedule that the Patriots should be able to benefit from having.

In fairness, for many of the dynasty years the Patriots had as easy or easier schedules. For most of the Dynasty years, the Pats were guaranteed 5-6 wins just in the AFC East because the division was so bad.

I think the Cowboys are going to win the NFC East (although not a huge accomplishment). If Tua can be an average to slightly above average QB and not make too many mistakes. the Dolphins should be north of .500 and be a wild card contender. If Wentz is healthy, the Colts will be a good team. Right there, those could be five games that could be harder than you are currently listing them.

But I think the Chargers were better than their record last year and could make a huge jump. If Darnold proves he isn't a bust and he was just a product of the Jets, the Panthers could be decent.

There are a lot of what ifs, but this schedule could end up being far harder than people expect. I hate strength of schedule talk at the beginning of the season because there are teams that always surprise you. If you said this time last year that the Bills would be playing the AFCCG, I would have said you were nuts.