(Photo Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports)
Key Players Returning:
QB Cam Newton, RB Damien Harris, RB/KR Sony Michel, RB James White, WR Damiere Byrd, WR/PR Julian Edleman, WR Jakobi Meyers, OC David Andrews, OG Shaquille Mason, OG Michael Onwenu, OT Isaiah Wynn, DE Lawrence Guy, DE Deatrich Wise, DT Byron Cowart, LB Ja’Whaun Bentley, LB Terez Hall, LB Chase Winovich, CB Stephon Gilmore, CB J.C. Jackson, CB Jonathan Jones, FS Devin McCourty, SS Kyle Dugger, SS Adrian Phillips, KR/PR Gunner Olszewski, PK Nick Folk, and PT Jake Bailey.
Key Players Departing:
OG Joe Thuney (Chiefs), DE John Simon (UFA), DT Adam Butler (Dolphins), and CB Jason McCourty (Dolphins).
Key Players Added:
WR Nelson Agholor (Raiders), WR Kendrick Bourne (49ers), TE Hunter Henry (Chargers), TE Jonnu Smith (Titans), OC Ted Karras (Dolphins), OT Trent Brown (Raiders), DE Henry Andeson (Jets), DE Matt Judon (Ravens), DT Adam Butler (Dolphins), DT David Godchaux (Dolphins), LB Matt Judon (Ravens), LB Kyle Van Noy (Dolphins), and SS Jalen Mills (Eagles).
Draft Picks:
Round 1: Pick 015 – QB Mac Jones (Alabama)
Round 2: Pick 038 – DT Christian Barmore (Alabama)
Round 3: Pick 096 – DE Ronnie Perkins (Oklahoma)
Round 4: Pick 120 – RB Rhamondre Stevenson (Oklahoma)
Round 5: Pick 177 – LB Cameron McGrone (Michigan)
Round 6: Pick 188 – FS Joshuah Bledsoe (Missouri)
Round 6: Pick 197 – OT William Sherman (Colorado)
Round 7: Pick 242 – WR Tre Nixon (Central Florida)
2020 Results:
W01 MIAMI DOLPHINS W 21-11
W02 at Seattle Seahawks L 30-35
W03 Las Vegas Raiders W 36-20
W04 at Kansas City Chiefs L 10-26
W06 DENVER BRONCOS L 12-18
W07 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS L 6-33
W08 at Buffalo Bills L 2-24
W09 at New York Jets W 30-27
W10 BALTIMORE RAVENS W 23-17
W11 at Houston Texans L 20-27
W12 ARIZONA CARDINALS W 20-17
W13 at Los Angeles Chargers W 45-0
W14 at Los Angeles Rams L 3-24
W15 at Miami Dolphins L 12-22
W16 BUFFALO BILLS L 9-38
W17 NEW YORK JETS W 28-14
Team Info:
2020 Record: 7-9 (3rd in AFC East)
Home: 5-3
Away: 2-6
East: 3-3
AFC: 6-6
NFC: 1-3
Head Coach: Bill Belichick
New England: 244-93
Career: 311-148
Playoffs: 31-12
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Cam Newton (242-2, 2657 yards, 65.8%, 7.2 avg., 8 TD, 10 Int.)
Rushing: Damien Harris (137 car., 691 yards, 5.0 avg., 2 TD)
Receiving: Jakobi Meyers (59 rec., 729 yards, 12.4 avg., 0 TD)
Yards After Catch: Jakobi Meyers (224)
TD’s Scored: Cam Newton (13)
Sacks: Chase Winovich (5.5)
Tackles: Adrian Phillips (109)
Interceptions: J.C. Jackson (9)
Pass Deflections: J.C. Jackson (14)
Tackles For Loss: Adrian Phillips (8)
Forced Fumbles: J.C. Jackson (2)
Kick Returns: Gunner Olszewski (18 car., 418 yards, 23.2 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Gunner Olszewski (20 ret., 346 yards, 17.3 avg., 1 TD)
Kicking: Nick Folk (28-28 fg/fga., 93%, 30-33 xp/xpa., 108 pts.)
Punting: Jake Bailey (55 punts, 2678 yards, 48.7 avg., 31 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 1 Cam Newton
RB: 37 Damien Harris
TE: 81 Jonnu Smith
WR: 84 Kendrick Bourne
WR: 13 Nelson Agholor
TE: 85 Hunter Henry
LT: 76 Isaiah Wynn
LG: 71 Michael Onwenu
OC: 60 David Andrews
RG: 69 Shaquille Mason
RT: 77 Trent Brown
KR: 80 Gunner Olszewski
PK: 6 Nick Folk
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 93 Lawrence Guy
NT: 92 Davon Goddchaux
DT: 99 Byron Cowart
DE: 94 Harry Anderson
LB: 9 Matt Judon
LB: 51 Ja’Whaun Bentley
LB: 53 Kyle Van Noy
CB: 27 J.C Jackson
CB: 24 Stephon Gilmore
FS: 32 Devin McCourty
SS: 21 Adrian Phillips
PR: 80 Gunner Olszewski
PT: 7 Jake Bailey
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: B
Running Backs: B
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: B
Secondary: B
Special Teams
Kick Returners: B
Punt Returners: A
Kickers: A
Punters: A
Schedule:
09/12 MIAMI DOLPHINS | New England trails the series 54-57. The Patriots are 13-7 since 2011, and their last series home loss (24-27) was in 2019.
09/19 at New York Jets | New England leads the series 62-49-1. The Patriots are 18-2 since 2011, and their last series road win (20-26) was in 2015.
09/26 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | New England leads the series 10-4. The Patriots won (36-30) the last meeting between teams in 2017.
10/03 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS | New England leads the series 7-2. The Patriots won (19-14) the last meeting between teams in 2017.
10/10 at Houston Texans | New England leads the series 10-3. The Patriots lost (20-27) last season’s meeting between teams, and their last series win (27-20) was in 2018.
10/17 DALLAS COWBOYS | New England trails the series 6-7. The Patriots won (13-9) the last meeting between teams in 2017.
10/24 NEW YORK JETS | The Patriots last series home loss (31-34) was in 2008.
10/31 at Los Angeles Chargers | New England leads the series 20-9-1. The Patriots are 5-0 since 2011, and their last series loss (10-30) was in 2008.
11/07 at Carolina Panthers | New England trails the series 3-4. The Patriots lost (30-33) the last meeting between teams in 2017.
11/14 CLEVELAND BROWNS | New England tails the series 12-13. The Patriots won (27-13) the last meeting between teams in 2019, and their last series home loss (17-19) was in 1992.
11/18 at Atlanta Falcons | New England leads the series 9-6. The Patriots won (23-7) the last meeting between teams in 2017.
11/28 TENNESSEE TITANS | New England leads the series 19-13. The Patriots lost (13-20) the last meeting between teams in 2019, and their last series win (35-14) was in 2017
12/06 at Buffalo Bills | New England leads the series 70-39. The Patriots are 15-5 since 2011, and their last series road win (16-10) was in 2019.
12/19 at Indianapolis Colts | New England leads the series 52-29. The Patriots are 7-0 since 2011, and they won (38-24) the last meeting between teams in 2018.
12/26 BUFFALO BILLS | The Patriots last series home win (24-17) was in 2019.
01/02 JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | New England leads the series 11-2. The Patriots lost (20-31) the last meeting between teams in 2018, and their last home win (51-27) was in 2015.
01/09 at Miami Dolphins | The Patriots last series road win (43-0) was in 2019.
Predictions:
Home: 6-3
Away: 5-4
DIV: 4-2
AFC: 8-4
NFC: 2-3
Overall: 10-7 (2nd in AFC East – Eliminated in Wild Card by Ravens)
UFA: Unrestricted Free Agent
Series Histories: Histories are from the inception of the first Super Bowl season through present day. Meetings prior to 1966 are not included. Playoff wins are included in the year the season took place. For example, if a team won a wildcard game in January of 2016, the game will be listed under the 2015 season.
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