Sports Illustrated has the Pats winning the AFC East

[JackBauer]

The author Conor Orr is the same moron who said the 2022 Patriots defense was a "classic Bill Belichick masterpiece" after they held the immortal Zach Wilson to 3 points in Foxboro. Wilson was so bad to that point in the season that the Jets didn't even dress him for the next three weeks. The friggin Jets went 1-6 after losing to the Patriots in week 11... so yeah, a classic BB masterpiece lol!

Conor even called the Patriots defense "clearly the best in the NFL." Oh, I don't know, I believe I recall San Francisco having a team last season. And the Patriots allowed 25.4 points per game after the "masterful" showing against Zach Wilson... 25.4 P/G... 30th! in the NFL. Oops.

Finally, this fool Conor Orr declared "Belichick is still really, incredibly, unfathomably good at this." He actually said that in the midst of a season that saw Belichick hand the franchise quarterback and offense off to Matt Patricia. Enough said.

So mediot rankings are valid when they’re critical of Mac Jones but invalid when they’re favorable to the Patriots. Got it.

 

[TheRainMaker]

While the division is tough, the Bills aren't that good and are on the decline, Miami has a QB reliability issue and Aaron Rodgers is not a guy you can count on.

I think the division winner will have 10 or 11 wins at best. Teams will beat each other up.

 

[n6249c]

also nattering nabobs of negativism

I hate them. their clamor is always drowning out the Silent Majority.

 

[n6249c]

The other day someone on 98.5 was saying he expects, as most of us do, the Patriots to run a last 1/4 of 2018 offense where they tried to be run first. This worked out great and they won a SB. but they also had greatest of all time QB and much better receivers to bail out the offense when Sony Michel gained 2 yards on first and second down.
My issue with this type of conservative offense is it will demand near perfection from a QB who still has the stench of Matt Patricia on him. That Fat Pig probably set Jones development back 5 years. We're talking needing 10-15 plays to score TDs, and given the QBs on the schedule the Pats will need touchdowns not a league leading field goal maker.

Sony’s gone. Our present RBs and playcallers might average better than 72 inches on first and second down.

 

[crawhammer]

So mediot rankings are valid when they’re critical of Mac Jones but invalid when they’re favorable to the Patriots. Got it.

I assume this Conor mOrron was aware Belichick had hired Patricia as the offensive coordinator when he said "Belichick is still really, incredibly, unfathomably good at this." Because BB clearly isn't and Patricia is example 1A. mOrron lost his credibility right there.

By the way, did he correct his assessment of "the league's unequivocal best defense" after they finished the season 2-5 and 30th in points against? No. But he's upping the ante now on his obtuseness by predicting a "very talented heavyweight division" will be won by mediocre Mac. Did he miss the last 4 matchups with Allen and the Bills winning by a combined score of 139-71?

 

[Triumph]

I assume this Conor mOrron was aware Belichick had hired Patricia as the offensive coordinator when he said "Belichick is still really, incredibly, unfathomably good at this." Because BB clearly isn't and Patricia is example 1A. mOrron lost his credibility right there.

By the way, did he correct his assessment of "the league's unequivocal best defense" after they finished the season 2-5 and 30th in points against? No. But he's upping the ante now on his obtuseness by predicting a "very talented heavyweight division" will be won by mediocre Mac. Did he miss the last 4 matchups with Allen and the Bills winning by a combined score of 139-71?

The 2022 Bills defense was ranked 2nd in points allowed and the Jets were ranked 4th. Both better than the 2022 Pats. Miami is the least of concern Alabama QBs stink.

NE winning anything is going to take a QB.

 

[oldrover]

That's great, but I personally don't care much for division titles. Though I obviously agree with the writer, I have my sights set on Lombardi trophy #7, which I feel extremely confident in this season.

-The team has a real OC again
-Mac Jones in year 3
-Two legit TEs that will wreak havoc in the middle of the field
-Tyquan will have a real OC for the first time, Bourne will be used correctly, and JuJu will be playing with the best passer he has ever had in his career.
-Elite running game
-The defense, while already great, will be generational this season with the addition of Gonzalez, Keion White, and Mapu.

I do not see anybody challenging this team in 2023.

 

[Real fan 02]

I was all pumped reading the headline but then I remembered the Pats play the AFC East this year.

Maybe he thought Brady was still the QB.. lol

 

[Real fan 02]

The 2022 Bills defense was ranked 2nd in points allowed and the Jets were ranked 4th. Both better than the 2022 Pats. Miami is the least of concern Alabama QBs stink.

NE winning anything is going to take a QB.

Pats defense was right on Parr with jets.. and pretty much had no household names on defense..

Bills defense got exposed down the stretch, and in playoffs.. without Edmunds thier defense will be weakened.

Tua can't stay on the field....

AFC East could go anyway this season..

 

[Triumph]

Pats defense was right on Parr with jets.. and pretty much had no household names on defense..

They gave up 35 points to the Bills with the Pats " PLAYOFFS, Playoffs? " on the line. Talk about choking.

Bills defense got exposed down the stretch, and in playoffs.. without Edmunds thier defense will be weakened.

Allen and Diggs didnt show up vs Cinci.

Tua can't stay on the field....

He sucks anyway.

AFC East could go anyway this season..

Every team will have problems.

 

[Real fan 02]

They gave up 35 points to the Bills with the Pats " PLAYOFFS, Playoffs? " on the line. Talk about choking.

Allen and Diggs didnt show up vs Cinci.

He sucks anyway.

Every team will have problems.

Special teams gave up the game.. against bills
Allen and Diggs were actually defended something we couldn't do against allen or Diggs
Give Mac 2 elite WRs he'd look pretty good too!
AFC is still a toss up to me.. one things for sure defense will be the calling card for patriots.

 

[rochrist]

Don't see it happening, but crazier things have happened.

Famous Boston sportswriter predicts Patriots will lose the Super Bowl 75-0.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Sony’s gone. Our present RBs and playcallers might average better than 72 inches on first and second down.

Oops, I just said what you said, thinking you said the opposite of what you said.

Edit - agree -- I am much higher on Stevenson than I was on Michel.

 

[Triumph]

Special teams gave up the game.. against bills
Allen and Diggs were actually defended something we couldn't do against allen or Diggs
Give Mac 2 elite WRs he'd look pretty good too!
AFC is still a toss up to me.. one things for sure defense will be the calling card for patriots.

Allen threw 3 TDs and Diggs went for 104 yards including a 49 yarder.

 

[captain stone]

3. The Patriots will win the AFC East

Bill O’Brien is back and carrying a new bag of tricks from his Alabama getaway. This offense can sensibly grind out games behind a brilliant defense. You’ll ask: But what about the Dolphins, Jets and Bills? My thought is that this division may end up collapsing in on itself a little bit. There are a lot of heavyweight punchers here, each of which have some very talented but fatal flaws. The Dolphins, for example, are going to have a tough time not burning themselves out. The Bills are dependent on reinventing themselves around an intentionally less mobile Josh Allen. The Jets’ title hopes rest on the shoulders of Aaron Rodgers, who may be great and newly motivated. He is also flirting with age 40 and may be starting to show it.


11. Rhamondre Stevenson will lead the NFL in rushing

The Patriots’ tailback is an unquestioned No. 1, with Ty Montgomery looking like he’ll assume the third-down responsibilities. Stevenson was 12th among running backs last year and roughly 600 yards off the pace set by Josh Jacobs, but he was in a fundamentally broken system with a more definitive platoon of backs.


97. Christian Gonzalez will win Defensive Rookie of the Year

As we’ve written a few times, Bill Belichick is still an excellent defensive coach. I’ve spoken to players who say his pregame tips and messaging are so good they feel it’s unfair. While I’m not suggesting his rookie cornerback needs this, if you pair an obviously talented player with expert instruction, the results are typically very good.

90. Steve Belichick will get a defensive coordinator interview outside of New England

While the Patriots’ pseudo-codefensive coordinator has long been associated with his famous father, one franchise engaged in a far-reaching head coaching hiring cycle will even bring Belichick in for a head coaching interview. The 36-year-old has been an assistant with the Patriots since 2012.

87. The Bills will clinch a playoff berth in wild fashion at the end of the season

Last year’s team of heartbreak will become this year’s late-season team of destiny. Facing a must-win situation at Miami in Week 18, Buffalo will win the game on a 54-yard field goal set up by a miraculous, diving pass by Josh Allen with time quickly ticking down.

3. Less chance of that happening than of Kay Adams Corleone leaving with the kids.

11. Possible, but it'll age him, quickly.

97. Also possible.

90. He needs to leave the nest if he's EVER to be taken seriously.

87. If it also eliminates Miami at the same time, then I'm ok with that.

 

[captain stone]

Screw that guy. And all the other doom-and-gloom negative Nancy naysaying tool bags.

He is at the head table of the Fellowship of the Miserable but it has a great many members and to some of them being miserable is what oxygen is like to the rest of
us. Expect them to flock to this thread with their negativity like flies to ****.

also nattering nabobs of negativism

I hate them. their clamor is always drowning out the Silent Majority.

Screw All of you too.

****ing cheerleaders.

The vitriol you spew toward those who disagree with you and who dare cast shade over your Dear Leader is ****ing pathetic.

 

[scott99]

That's great, but I personally don't care much for division titles. Though I obviously agree with the writer, I have my sights set on Lombardi trophy #7, which I feel extremely confident in this season.

-The team has a real OC again
-Mac Jones in year 3
-Two legit TEs that will wreak havoc in the middle of the field
-Tyquan will have a real OC for the first time, Bourne will be used correctly, and JuJu will be playing with the best passer he has ever had in his career.
-Elite running game
-The defense, while already great, will be generational this season with the addition of Gonzalez, Keion White, and Mapu.

I do not see anybody challenging this team in 2023.

This all happens in a best case scenario situation for each thing you mentioned. I like the optimism, but it’s doubtful ALL 6 things happen in the same year. Add in one of the toughest schedules.

 

[scott99]

The other day someone on 98.5 was saying he expects, as most of us do, the Patriots to run a last 1/4 of 2018 offense where they tried to be run first. This worked out great and they won a SB. but they also had greatest of all time QB and much better receivers to bail out the offense when Sony Michel gained 2 yards on first and second down.
My issue with this type of conservative offense is it will demand near perfection from a QB who still has the stench of Matt Patricia on him. That Fat Pig probably set Jones development back 5 years. We're talking needing 10-15 plays to score TDs, and given the QBs on the schedule the Pats will need touchdowns not a league leading field goal maker.

Not trying to say you were wrong about 2018, but Michel averaged 4.5 yards a carry in 2018. He was an integral part of that SB winning team. Of course Brady was still great. But the run game that year was awsome. James White was 2nd in rushing (Burkhead missed 8 games), and White also led the team in receptions and Burkhead was big in the playoffs and SB, as was Michel. Even Cordarrelle Patterson was a contributor to the run game.

 

[Tunescribe]

Screw All of you too.

****ing cheerleaders.

The vitriol you spew toward those who disagree with you and who dare cast shade over your Dear Leader is ****ing pathetic.

I used to think you were a regular guy but now am questioning that. There is nothing at all wrong with being positive, optimistic and rooting for the Patriots to do well. Since when did "cheerleader" become a dirty word around here? It is possible to "cheerlead" and still be realistic enough to levy criticism when warranted. Of course, that's different from being a hater, chronic contrarian or pusher of the many negative agendas we've seen.

Last I checked this site is called patsfans.com. Note the word FANS in there. Fans want the team to do well, to win, to succeed. Those who don't, either actively or through being passively aggressive and antagonistic, might well deserve to have some vitriol spewed their way. Whether that includes yourself is up to you.

 

[denverpatsfan]

The schedule is brutal. I guess it will be tough for the other AFCE teams too? Does it come down to going 5-1 in the division instead of 1-5?