The 2020 season will live long in the memory for many fans of the New England Patriots, sadly for all the wrong reasons. Suffering a losing season isn’t something that Pats fans are used to contemplating, but nonetheless it’s what awaited them after a run of poor displays and unfortunate events.
The concept of a losing season at all is anathema to an organization that hasn’t suffered one at all since 2000, and the fact it came in such hideous fashion is something that New England will need to reflect on in order to avoid repeating.
Indeed it appears that most in the sports betting market don’t imagine Bill Belichick’s side will repeat the horrors of last season. When it comes to New England Patriots betting odds, you can get (+2500) on a Super Bowl triumph, which places the Gillette Stadium side at around mid-way across all those in action. The same sources offer (+1400) on an AFC Conference title, which is very tempting given the Patriots have bagged that honor four times in the past six years.
So what went wrong in 2020? Well where do we begin?
A certain QB by the name of Tom Brady left for Tampa Bay in March and that will have hurt, not least as he then guided the Buccaneers to the Super Bowl title.
Losing Cam Newton to a COVID positive test just before game week 4, and though his absence was brief it did set into motion a four game losing streak that pretty much curtailed their season.
Their 33-6 home loss to the Dolphins, though only in week seven, effectively broke any remaining spirit in the camp. It was the worst home defeat of the Belichick reign, leading to him stating;
“We didn’t perform well enough in any area — offense, defense, special teams, running, passing, defending the run, defending the pass, ball security, tackling, blocking. None of it was good enough.”
Of course many issues related to a weak offense, the Patriots registered 27th out of 32 in 2020, and clearly a lot of that comes from the fact that New England had to adjust to life without Brady. To be fair it’s something that Belichick knew was coming someday and it appears in year one, they didn’t deal with the inevitable all that well.
So what’s to look forward to in 2021?
Well New England spent big in the offseason and there are many positives to consider ahead of the new season kicking-off.
Nelson Agholor, who has much improved since his initial footfalls in the NFL, should offer a great deal to New England and great things are expected of J.J Taylor and Dont’a Hightower.
Lightning doesn’t often strike twice and it will take more than one stern hit to bring down the Patriots ship. By the time week four rolls around, when Tom Brady and the Buccaneers come into town, it will be evident just how things are progressing and we’d back Belichick and co. to get back to winning ways in 2021.
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