who is the competition now?

[IllegalContact]

is there any?

who so far has improved?

anyone?

 

[borisman]

***crickets***...............

 

[Fixit]

History.

 

[NashuaPats]

Injuries

 

[fgssand]

Bad bounces and injury are about the only way we can be de-railed.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

What is best in life?

To crush your 31 enemies, to see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women.

 

[patsinthesnow]

Barring injury, the AFC is toast. It's resembling Lebron's path in the East.

When Rodgers, Brees, Ryan, Wilson, etc. are in the NFC and Manning is retired & Big Ben may be declining in the AFC, it's hard to stop us from reaching the SB.

 

[A Defiant Goose]

I think the "Big three" hold strong (Pats, Steelers...OAKLAND?!) and we see a new face or two from the AFCS in the postseason. I can see the AFC playoffs shaping up with:

1. Pats
2. Steelers
3. Raiders
4. Titans
5. Dolphins
6. Ravens

 

[strngplyr]

Anyone can have a bad weekend come January. We should be favorites, probably largely favored, favorites, but don't pencil anyone champs when we're only 6 days into the league year.

Impossible to not feel optimistic about winning it again, though. This is the most stacked team I can think of in recent history.

 

[Kontradiction]

Injuries

You beat me to it. Barring that, this is the most complete team in the NFL.

 

[everlong]

The league will need a new gate to level the playing field.

 

[IllegalContact]

Anyone can have a bad weekend come January. We should be favorites, probably largely favored, favorites, but don't pencil anyone champs when we're only 6 days into the league year.

Impossible to not feel optimistic about winning it again, though. This is the most stacked team I can think of in recent history.

no doubt....but the question still remains.....has anyone gotten better?

 

[FourierSeries]

Competition?

 

[Thelonious]

I am wary of the Giants, but that could just be the PTSD talking.

 

[varjao]

The league will need a new gate to level the playing field.

They will enforce a new rule, the Pats opponents start the game with a +10 handicap, like in Vegas.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

I'll wait for rosters to be finalized before judging the competition, but it's hard to imagine anyone competing with NE.

In the NFC, a good QB like rodgers can make it a good game against NE. The giants are going to make some noise too I feel.

 

[jimnance]

I am wary of the Giants, but that could just be the PTSD talking.

The Giants? You gotta be freaking kidding me.

Patriots would have blown the Giants out by 20+ in the last SB.

Now it would be more like 30+. Giants suck.

 

[363839]

They will enforce a new rule, the Pats opponents start the game with a +10 handicap, like in Vegas.

That won't be enough to help them.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

The '27 Yankees

 

[GaryfromTO]

seasons aren't played on paper. anything can happen.

That said. I think the Pats have had a great off-season and are well positioned for another run.