If I know the Patriots, like I think I do. With all this talk about their downfall and all the crap about the WR/TE..one thing is pretty much for sure, they will be going to the Superbowl this season.
I agree. I just can't see them getting bounced early or even losing to the Texans or the Broncos. The Ravens are the only team that I fear, even though they lost many starters on both sides of the football. This team may have lost a lot in the passing game, but they are too talented on other parts of the team to be written off so fast.
They can still beat the Texans, even though it may be tougher without Hernandez. Hernandez destroyed that defense twice and he exposed the Texans' defenders in man coverage. But still, the Texans will get matchups exploited with Vereen's ability to go out wide, along with Gronkowski's big and athletic frame that the Patriots didn't even have last season and yet still put up 42 and 41 points without. It will be harder to find mismatches without Hernandez, but it doesn't mean it can't be done with other players.
Against the Broncos, the Patriots showed that they can pass and run against that defense, which will keep them on their heels. The Patriots put up 31 and a bunch of yards without Hernandez. Defending Manning and the passing attack, the Patriots improved their interior pass rush by adding Kelly to push the pocket. Also, the Patriots have a pair of big 6'1" CBs in Aqib Talib and Ras-I Dowling who can help blanket the big Bronco receivers in Thomas and Decker. Also, Arrington is best as a slot CB so he'll be getting work on Wes Welker, even though that proves to be a tough task. With those 3 and Devin McCourty roaming center field at FS, the coverage will be solidified and that will allow Belichick to dial up some exotic blitzes with the talented front 7 and apply even more pressure against Peyton Manning.
But, if the Patriots offense can show that they can attack all parts of the football field (short, intermediate, deep, inside the hashes, outside the hashes, whatever), then they won't have as much trouble with the Ravens as they had in the past. The Ravens would make life difficult for Brady by packing multiple defenders in the middle of the field to take away the underneath passing game. However, they dared the Patriots to go vertical by leaving one-on-one coverage on the outside and that's where the Patriots must beat the Ravens.
The RBs do need to step up though, Ridley had a great season in 2012 and is only getting better. I expect Vereen to have Woodhead's receiving production and a lot more rushing yards, as the primary change of pace back. Something special is also with the defense, with all of the continuity, the additions of Adrian Wilson/Tommy Kelly/Armond Armstead and the improvement of the 2nd year players (Hightower, T. Wilson, C. Jones, Dennard), it is making things very promising for the defense.
You also have to factor in the defense's ability to force turnovers and Leon Washington's addition to the return game, which will give Brady and the offense a shorter field to work with.
I can see the Patriots definitely make the Super Bowl again, because they match up well with the other good teams from the AFC and that the other parts of the football team (run game, defense) are talented and getting better and will take less off Brady's shoulders. But winning the super bowl, is a different story. 49ers and Seahawks will be tough matchups for NE if they make it to the Big Apple.
