Dynasty revived?

New England Patriots

I usually do this every year but for whatever reason have neglected it so far this year. Let's go game by game and predict the Patriots record (barring unforeseen injury or whatnot).

Week 1:
v. Buffalo
NE is playing with a chip on their shoulder from the Denver game last year and from not playing up to their usual standards in the regular season. Losman is and awful quarterback and the Buffalo offense is one-dimensional. NE should win this one going away. WIN(1-0)

Week 2:
at NY Jets
The Jets have absolutely no running game right now. Their passing game is very shaky with their quarterback situation. Still, this game is at the Meadowlands, and the Jets often play the Patriots pretty tough. In addition, without old Herm Edwards there to prevent the opening up of the game, anything could happen. This one should go NE's way in a close game (difference of 10 pts or less). WIN (2-0)

Week 3:
v. Denver
Revenge game. Denver will likely have the same awful performance they had in the playoffs. Nothing about them has really changed since last year. They picked up Javon Walker, but they have even more question marks in their running game. Pretty break-even. This time, don't look for the Patriots to make the same ridiculously uncharacteristic mistakes they did in that game. This game is also at home, which does not bode well for the visiting Broncos. This game should go decisively for the Patriots but not a blowout. Perhaps Plummer throws an interception for a touchdown towards the end that lets the Patriots win by 13. WIN (3-0)

Week 4:
at Cincinnati
Tough game for the Patriots. It would have been easier to face the offense earlier in week one or two before Palmer and the rest of the offense get real comfortable. By this time the Bengals could really be hitting their groove. Remember that shootout from a couple years ago that the Patriots barely won? This should be like that except that the Bengals are better offensively than they were and the Patriots will be missing some of their big play threats like Branch and Givens. Furthermore, Rodney Harrison won't be at 100%. If NE is able to impose their style in the game - rush Dillon and Maroney down the throats of the Bengals and outphysical the Bengals when NE is on defense - they will win. And that is certainly very possible. This game is almost a toss up but I'd have to give the advantage to the Bengals at home. LOSS (3-1)

Week 5:
v. Miami
After the tough game in Cincy, most teams would be in danger of a letdown against a non-playoff team. Still, Miami could conceiveably enter this game 3-1 as well, and Belichick's teams are not the type to take teams lightly. Daunte Culpepper can throw the long ball as well as anyone and big strong mobile qbs have posed a challenge in the past to NE (mostly because their linebackers have been somewhat undersized - apart from McGinest). At the same time though, Belichick must be licking his chops. Culpepper is far from an accurate passer, and Belichick will likely game plan to keep him in the pocket and try to throw medium range passes to drive Miami up the field. Culpepper will not be up to this task in his first time meeting a Belichick defense with a new team, especially at Gillete. WIN (4-1)

Week 6:
bye week

Week 7:
at Buffalo
Nothing will have changed for Buffalo from the opening week except for playing at home in front of a pretty good fan base. One might expect the game to be far closer as a result, but New England is coming off of a bye week, and that gives the coaching staff an enormous edge. Another pretty easy victory. WIN (5-1)

Week 8:
at Minnesota
Minnesota's talent level is on a severe decline. Brad Johnson is competent, but his receivers are average and the running game is suspect. The Vikings have a few playmakers on defense, but the Patriots will probably try to grind out the game with rushing and short/medium passing, leaving little or no hope for the Viking defense to make game changing interceptions. This game would have to be a repeat of the Denver mistake-filled disaster if the Patriots are to lose. WIN (6-1)

Week 9:
v. Indianapolis
As always, a tough matchup with Indy. I expect this year's Colts team to be far more of a passing oriented team. Rhodes is not close to Edgerrin James and Addai is an unproven rookie will is sharing carries. That does not mean things bode extremely well for the Patriots defense, though, as the Colts are the type of team that can beat teams easily even being one-dimensional. That being said, the Patriots defense should be far better than in 2005 - with a more healthy Harrison and Troy Brown not playing cornerback. Most importantly, the Patriots defensive line and linebackers will probably blitz the hell out of the Colts. Belichick saw what the Steelers and Chargers did last year and has the talent to replicate that. The Colts will probably burn the Patriots a few times but the Patriots should win in a November game at Foxboro. WIN (7-1)

Will another one of these banners go up this year?

Week 10:
v. New York Jets
If there is a let down upset special this year, this game may be it. Mangini could have established his defense by now, and the Jets offense could, if not become proficient, than establish some rhythm. If the two Jets games were home and away rather than away and home, I would be tempted to call this the one upset good teams experience every year (they also often win an away game they maybe shouldn't). The Patriots, however, will win a very close game in the end. WIN (8-1)

Week 11:
at Green Bay
Brett Favre called this year's Packer team the most talented he's ever had. In many ways, I believe him. The Pack has some big names on defense like Charles Woodson and some solid wideouts and running backs. Unfortunately for cheeseheads everywhere, his defense is about as swiss cheesy as it guess. Moreover, Brett Favre doesn't seem to understand that he is about 25% of the player he was at his prime. Favre single handedly loses 3-4 games a year for the Pack with his bad decisions and interceptions. Yet somehow the national media still clings to the belief that its the talent around Favre every year that is lacking. Blinded by their Favre nuthugging, these idiots have relegated Javon Walker, Donald Driver, Ahman Green, Samkon Gado, and Bubba Franks to a bunch of scrubs. Bottom line is despite being on the road at the frozen tundra, a super bowl contender like the Patriots should and will win against a team like Green Bay. WIN (9-1)

Week 12:
v. Chicago
Chicago has maybe the best defense in the league. Chicago's offense, however, is comically offensive. So Chicago cannot score unless Brady is throwing a bunch of picks for TDs or FGs (not likely). Maybe this is a game to give Kevin Faulk and his fumblitis a rest. The Patriots should at least score 16 points and that should be enough to beat Chicago easily at home. WIN (10-1)

Week 13:
v. Detroit
The one redeeming hope for Detroit this year is the implementation of Mike Martz's offense under a quarterback not named Joey Harrington. Jon Kitna is a quality quarterback and Roy Williams has as much talent as any wideout in the league. At the same time, how will Martz recreate the St. Louis magic without a quick throwing quarterback and blazing receivers? Also, the last few years Martz had with the Rams were far from impressive. This might be a case similar to Brian Billick with the Ravens - a noted offensive mind goes to a new team and has absolutely no effect on the offense. Patriots win decisively at home. WIN (11-1)

Week 14:
at Miami
Miami is the trendy upset pick in the AFC East. Everyone points to them as a team on the rise which barely missed the playoffs last year (albeit with one of the easiest schedules in the league). Nick Saban is often thought of as the new Belichick. While I don't buy the hype completely, and I especially am not a fan of Culpepper, Saban will have made some adjustments by now. The Miami defense will be solid at home and the offense will make some adjustments to throw off the Pat defense just enough. This is probably the one upset for a great team that I mentioned in my week 10 analysis. LOSS (11-2)

Week 15:
v. Houston
Every member of the Patriots should be licking his chops for this one. Regardless of whether the Patriots are coming off a loss or not, they are just better in every way to Houston. This should be a blowout at home. WIN (12-2)

Week 16:
at Jacksonville
Jacksonville will be looking for revenge after last year's playoff humilation. Unfortunately, the matchup just doesn't favor the Jaguars. Leftwich is another questionably accurate qb that the Patriots usually feast on. Jimmy Smith is retired now, and that removes Leftwich's top safety valve. Matt Jones is the only one to fear on the offense, but his inexperience and lack of help will eliminate him as a threat against the Patriot defense. The Jaguar defense is formidable, but the Patriots should have no problem putting up a few good drives to get some scores and t
hat is all New England needs to deny Jacksonville its revenge. WIN (13-2)

Week 17:
at Tennessee
By this time, the Titans should be playing for 2007-2008. Despite their lack of motivation, the Patriots will likely be entrenched in their playoff spot by now and treat this one as a preseason game or bye week. I see this one going either way, I have more faith in the Patriots starters playing for a quarter or a half combined with the Patriot second teamers playing the rest of the game than with whatever best team Tennessee throws out there. The Titans' roster is simply in shambles. WIN (14-2)

Recap:
Fred Smerlas of WEEI famously chose the Patriots to go 14-2 and 15-1 every season even during the lean years. I don't want to sound like Smerlas but New England has perhaps the easiest schedule in the NFL this year. Anything short of a Super Bowl appearance will be a severe disappointment. The Dynasty continues.