Quick look ahead to next year.

[BobDigital]

Got some spare time and Atlanta has been talked about a lot and will be talked about more. Just some thoughts.

Who is the Pats legit AFC threat next year? With Manning gone the QB drain in the AFC was noticeable. Ben clearly has taken too many hits. I don't know if he will retire or not but he is not as good as he use to be and it seems if the Steelers did not change their zone blitz scheme this time they never will. Ravens might surge back but I see them needing to get a lot done in FA and the draft to make a push next year. They will need IMO at least 2 years to rebuild. Denver had their D play great but it didn't matter. Unless they walk into a good QB what do they do? Also Talib will not be any better nor will Ware. They have to fix that OL and entire offense really.

In short who is the team that will stop the Pats next year? Steelers? No Ravens? No. Denver? No. Titans? Not yet. Houston? What QB? Chiefs? Not with Smith. To me it is Oakland or bust but they are so young and that D is highly questionable. Unless the Pats greatly decline I could see them back next year. Unless Houston/Denver someone gets a pretty good QB I don't see a team near our balance.

Also looking at the schedule for next year (and we know BB builds with an eye to that) they will face a lot of top QBs. They get Chargers, Raiders, Saints, Panthers, Steelers, Bucs and Falcons (super bowl rematch will be high drama)

A lot of fun games to circle on your calendar. Also worth noting the Pats will play every team that made the AFC playoffs this year as well as those who just missed. The only teams they don't play in the AFC that were decent are the Ravens and Colts.

I think BB will look to get pass rush and DE help in response to knowing he will face so many good signal callers.

 

[turkeyneck]

I'm pretty excited about next year regardless of the competition. I'm psyched about the WR position's latent talent. I look forward to Mitchell's development into a real weapon. Lucien and White on the PS should give us something. And if Floyd stays and can get his head around the system in the off-season we'll really have some weapons. Buck up the LB position and find a DE who can be a destroyer and we're good to go for another run to the SB.

 

[varjao]

19-0

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

@BobDigital Don't forget, there will be major free agency departures, especially on our defense, that we need to replace.

 

[BobDigital]

I'm pretty excited about next year regardless of the competition. I'm psyched about the WR position's latent talent. I look forward to Mitchell's development into a real weapon. Lucien and White on the PS should give us something. And if Floyd stays and can get his head around the system in the off-season we'll really have some weapons. Buck up the LB position and find a DE who can be a destroyer and we're good to go for another run to the SB.

Honestly I could care less about the offense. You have Brady and Scar and McDaniels. So that is intact.

Then you have the OL signed for next year so it will be at least as good as well as Edelman, Hogan, Mitchell, Gronk, White, Lewis, Amendola (he will resign).

I don't besides maybe replace Blount and if they will or won't resign Bennett I am not worried about this unit. To me next year is about building a defensive monster if they can.

 

[BobDigital]

@BobDigital Don't forget, there will be major free agency departures, especially on our defense, that we need to replace.

Yes and that is where they should build and spend money. I want to spend all our money on D except for what it takes it keep Bennett here. Besides that I would be happy with every major signing or high draft pick being used on D.

 

[fnordcircle]

19-0

16-0 then 3-0.

 

[NashuaPats]

"Denver had their D play great but it didn't matter. Unless they walk into a good QB what do they do?"



Romo to the Broncos almost makes too much sense for it not to happen. Romo is injury prone, but he's a darn good QB when healthy. The Broncos would be a force with him. They take their chances with him while having Lynch and Siemian develop and compete behind him.

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

Here are the teams we are facing next year:

Away: Steelers, Bucs, Saints, Raiders, Broncos, Bills, Dolphins, Jets
Home: Texans, Panthers, Falcons, Chargers, Chiefs, Bills, Dolphins, Jets

Cam Newton and Philip Rivers both had down years and might be expected to get better next season. Aside from them, the Patriots will face Matt Ryan, Drew Brees, Derek Carr, and Ben Roethlisberger, all of whom rank in the top 12 of the NFL in passer rating. Ryan Tannehill should be healthy and he ranks 13th. Add in Alex Smith and maybe even Tyrod Taylor, if he returns, this means that over half of the Patriots opposing quarterbacks in 2017 should feature a current passer rating over the league average of 88.6

Keeping our core of defensive players has to be a big priority. Would also like to see us draft pass rushers, draft defensive backs who can play press coverage, and hopefully a dominant running back

 

[stelfans]

Oakland, and Denver if they manage to find a QB.

 

[borg]

Based on the results this year, give Brady the first 4 games off next year (tell him Goodell decreed it). Hell.....take 6 off

 

[ALP]

our greatest foe, every year (as in every team), is unpredictable really, and can take us from best to average mighty quick...injuries

competition next year? no not really, but our schedule will be very tough to go undefeated

no real team to challenge us for a SB berth know, OAK wouldn't have anough experience, steelers we match up well against, really only threats usually the ravens and broncos wont be stronger than us

then you have the other AFCE teams, of which i dont see any marketdly improving and fins getting worse

 

[turkeyneck]

Honestly I could care less about the offense. You have Brady and Scar and McDaniels. So that is intact.

Then you have the OL signed for next year so it will be at least as good as well as Edelman, Hogan, Mitchell, Gronk, White, Lewis, Amendola (he will resign).

I don't besides maybe replace Blount and if they will or won't resign Bennett I am not worried about this unit. To me next year is about building a defensive monster if they can.

Oh, I agree. I think the O is mostly set, with potential to be even better at WR. And I'm excited to see how that develops.

The O being in that position frees up BB and staff to make a concerted effort at strengthening the D. Between draft, free agency and in-season pickups along with further development of Valentine, Brown, Flowers, Van Noy McClellin, it's not unreasonable to think next year's D could be 10-20% better than this year's. That shapes up to be a killer team.

 

[ForThoseAboutToRock]

Excepting Brady for however long he stays like he is currently, I expect that the next generation of AFC QB's will take a step into the void being left by the retirement/aging of the QB that have occupied the AFC's spot in the Superbowl over the last 15 years.

Carr and Luck are the two obvious choices for top QB. Carr seems to have a good team around him, we'll see what happens in Indy now that they've extinguished their dumpster fire. Mariota was good too, and could get better.

Hard to take measure of the AFCN - but the Ravens and Steelers have shown themselves to be pretty competent organizations over the years. Nothing they do to be successful ought to take us by surprise.

Gase and Miami - we'll see. They've got some potent weapons on offense still under rookie contract.

Always gotta expect a team or two per year to drop from playoff contention and be replaced by a surprise team.

 

[shmessy]

@BobDigital Don't forget, there will be major free agency departures, especially on our defense, that we need to replace.

I may be wrong, but I thought Pats are in good cap shape for next year plus no need to worry about C. Jones or J. Collins anymore. That narrowed everything greatly.

Add on to that if they get a high 2nd and a high 3rd for Jimmy from a crap team, they will have at least 5 picks in the first 3 rounds.

 

[Pats1989]

I'll say Oakland. They are young but will only improve. Romo may help Denver...until his eventual injury. We always beat Pittsburgh. I do see a small decline from this year. Maybe 11-5 or 10-6.

 

[YOUGOTMOSSED]

"Denver had their D play great but it didn't matter. Unless they walk into a good QB what do they do?"



Romo to the Broncos almost makes too much sense for it not to happen. Romo is injury prone, but he's a darn good QB when healthy. The Broncos would be a force with him. They take their chances with him while having Lynch and Siemian develop and compete behind him.

36 years old. Long history of injuries. 2-4 record in playoffs. Go for it Broncos!

 

[jboston19]

It's really tough to say before free agency. There's some really good defensive players out there, such as Perry, Poe, Johnson, Campbell, and our own Hightower and Ryan, which could make Oakland or Pitt scary, for example. Having said that, there's no reason the Pats shouldn't be favored again next year.