Between now and the end of August, TGS will offer up a quick snapshot of every NFL team heading into the 2015 regular season. Today, the New England Patriots.
2014 in a nutshell: Despite a slow start causing some to believe their time was up, the Patriots rebound and win 13 of their last 15 games, the last of which comes against the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX.
Why 2015 could be different: Quarterback Tom Brady is currently suspended for his alleged role in deflategate, they’re now without key contributors Darrelle Revis, Brandon Browner, Vince Wilfork, Kyle Arrington and Shane Vereen, and it’s been a decade since anybody won back-to-back Super Bowls.
Major additions: Veteran defenders Bradley Fletcher and Jabaal Sheard, as well as rookie first-round pick Malcom Brown, who might be counted on to replace Wilfork up front. They’ll also have Pro Bowl linebacker Jerod Mayo back from injury.
Major losses: Revis, Wilfork, Browner, Arrington, Vereen and of course Brady if his four-game suspension holds up in court.
Breakout watch: A lot of folks expect cornerback Malcolm Butler to step up after his Super Bowl-clinching interception. They’d better hope so, because Butler will have the first chance to replace Revis.
Position to watch: Running back is interesting, because LeGarrette Blount hasn’t traditionally been reliable and is suspended for Week 1. With Vereen and Stevan Ridley gone, that leaves them with a bunch of question marks like James Develin, Jonas Gray, Travaris Cadet, James White, Brandon Bolden, Tyler Gaffney, Dion Lewis and Eric Kettani.
Prediction: I think those losses hurt a lot and this team is only marginally better than the Bills and Dolphins. They should hang on for another division title, but I think they could be one-and-done in the playoffs.
