Interesting Thoughts About All 17 New England's 2024 Games
The New England Patriots finally have their schedule for the 2024 season, and everyone is making record predictions. This is fine, but I wanted to add a main storyline in addition to that. So, this is all about the most intriguing storylines in each match-up.
Week 1 @ Bengals
This is a much bigger game than I expected to start the season; Tennesse felt more their speed to kick start the New Era of Patriots football. The defense is going to be put to the test early. The two match-ups I am most interested in watching are Christian Gonzalez going up against Ja'Marr Chase to see if the kid can build off the games he did play last year and pass another test.
The other is how Alex Van Pelt and the offense will look out the gate against Lou Amaruno, one of the best defensive minds in the NFL. Can this offensive system be exciting? Will these rookie WRs stand out immediately? I don't think the Patriots will win this one, but my hope is that we will be competitive offensively.
Loss
Week 2 V Seahawks
These two franchises went from having the two oldest and longest-tenured head coaches in the league to the two youngest. I am fascinated by how these two teams will look with such seismic changes. This is New England's home opener and one of the few games I expect them to win. Matt Judon always shows up early in seasons, which is one of those spots to me.
I'd love to see how a player like Ja'Lynn Polk looks in a game like this going up against a great secondary. I think he could show out in this one and prove that he deserved to be drafted where he was.
Win
Week 3 TNF @ Jets
We never got to see Aaron Rodgers vs. Bill Belichick. I hope he is healthy this time because I don't want to hear about the injuries when we split with the Jets. In a perfect world, Drake Maye would win the quarterback job and be ready to duel with Aaron on Prime in Primetime. However, this world is far from perfect, so Jacoby Brissett must go out and manage the game.
Brissett isn't even my main concern, and neither is Rodgers. The problem comes from bottling up Breece Hall, which will decide this game. Unfortunately, I don't think the Patriots will steal this one due to that.
Loss
Week 4 @ 49ers
This is a measuring stick game that I do not expect to win, but if they can make it competitive, that is a big win compared to what this team was getting the last two years. How does Demarcus Convington deploy the defense to try and nullify the 49ers' skill players?
This is supposed to be a fun game to watch due to the opposing star power and the chance to prove themselves to be better than the crap heap that they have been. At the end of the day, I think the 49ers will win this game.
Loss
Week 5 V Dolphins
The biggest storyline for the Patriots in this game is if they can finally get one over on the Dolphins with Tua at QB. They lost the last six games when Tua suited up and only won by two against Skyler Thompson in a game where seeding was already locked up. If they happen to show up and win this game at home, they will do what Belichick wasn't able to do at the end and beat Tua. That would be a significant progression for this team.
The other side of things is what Dolphins team will they play? The half of the season that they are dominant and an SB favorite or the one that goes 2-7 before or after that stretch and ends up 10-7 or 9-8. I think they will take advantage of this and win this game.
Win
Week 6 V Texans
Do the Patriots have the horses on defense to cover these weapons and stop the run game? The Texans have elite tackles, but the line's interior is somewhere the Patriots might have an advantage with Barmore and Godchaux. They can keep this game close by applying pressure from the interior and holding the edges to contain the pocket.
More realistically, they will probably lose this game by two touchdowns. Seeing Stroud and this offense is reason enough to make the trip to Gillette. Hopefully, the Patriot's offense will be why those seats will fill again soon.
Loss
Week 7 @ Jaguars (London)
The world will be watching this game. It's the 9 AM window that true football fans absolutely love to see cause the only thing better than 11 hours of football on Sunday is 14 hours of football on Sunday. My biggest storyline for this game is whether the Patriots can put out a respectable product that doesn't embarrass the organization and its fans, like the Germany matchup where they failed to score a TD.
I wish healthy seasons for every player in the NFL, but if Mac Jones just happens to start this game, it would be a super juicy opportunity to bury that era of Patriots history once and for all. Regardless, I think the Pats show up and win this game.
Win
Week 8 V Jets
Here is one of the most likely spots to see Drake Maye make his NFL debut if he sits to start the season. It's about mid-way through the season against a divisional opponent who typically knows each other well. They wouldn't have any NFL tape on Maye, which could provide an opportunity against an outstanding defense.
Some may argue that defense is reason enough to hold him out till Tennessee. My point is that if this kid is the future, he will have to be able to beat the teams in the division. Ideally, the line and weapons have shown promise, and he could be the final piece to be exciting on offense again. I think Maye starts here, and the Patriots win this game.
Win
Week 9 @ Titans
This is one of the easier games on paper in this 2024 season. The biggest thing I'm looking for is whether this team can win the games it should under this new regime. The Titans are in a similar spot to the Patriots, albeit with better weapons.
They have a young new head coach and a developing second-year quarterback; I think their future is bright, but I can still see the Patriots winning their third game in a row with Drake Maye at the helm.
Win
Week 10 @ Bears
The biggest storyline for most people in this game is Caleb Williams vs. Drake Maye. Two top-three picks head-to-head should be an exciting and promising game for both franchises. Well, I partially agree with this. I think both teams will have excellent defenses this upcoming season, so it comes down to which one of these guys can elevate and make the game-winning play because this will come down to the wire.
A consistent theme of some of these storylines is the secondary's ability to slow these weapons down. Just look at the receiving cores they are going against week in and week out. Unfortunately,, I think Williams and the Bears will squeak one out.
Loss
Week 11 V Rams
It is one of those Super Bowl rematches, with almost every piece of each roster being different from that time. The biggest storyline in this game for me is whether the defensive line can put any pressure on Stafford and disrupt the Rams' dangerous run game. If they can do those things, New England will have a shot at winning this game.
This will be Javon Baker's breakout game. I'm calling it now. He has shown flashes up to this point, but this will be where he puts it all together with Drake. Puka Nacua and Christian Gonzalez should be an entertaining matchup to watch. Overall, I'm not sure they will have enough to beat this team.
Loss
Week 12 @ Dolphins
Excuse my French, but weird shit is always going down at Hard Rock Stadium, especially at the one o clock window. This match-up was always match-uping, even when Brady and Bill were here. Will things be the same for this new era of Patriots football? Unfortunately, New England will lose this game for two reasons: they won the first game at home, and taking two against that team would be strange.
The other issue is that the away sideline is 20-30 times hotter than the home sideline, which takes its toll when balling for three hours. Ideally, they can keep it close and continue to develop that offense.
Loss
Week 13 V Colts
The Patriots spent most of their offseason resigning and bringing back several players. The storyline in this game is: Can they play with an edge? Will they remember being embarrassed by this team on the international stage and come out pissed off and swinging?
If they come out flat for a game like this, my faith will be slightly shaken in this coaching staff. I don't expect that to happen, though they should be able to edge out the Colts at home. They held them to 10 points, albeit with Gardner Minshew under center, but New England allowed an average of 21 points per game last year, so some credit should be given.
Win
Week 14 Bye Week
I am interested in seeing how this new regime handles the bye. Will it be similar to Belichick's, or will Mayo continue to try to branch out of that shadow? Also, in the past few seasons, the team has not come out of its bye playing its sharpest ball, so hopefully, that gets resolved.
Week 15 @ Cardinals
How will the defense be able to game plan for a player like Marvin Harrison Jr? Gonzo will likely draw the matchup, but even he, standing at 6'2, still faces a height disadvantage. How will the linebackers contain a player like Trey McBride, who will be a stud this year? Can they force Kyler to stay in the pocket and throw over the middle of the field?
Demarcus Convington will have to provide some answers for this, but I think our defense is in a much better spot than the Cardinals', so I am still considering this game a win. Drake Maye has himself a day against this defense.
Win
Week 16 @ Bills
The biggest storyline about this first game against the Bills is how New England stacks up against this iteration of the Buffalo Bills. They have gotten younger but lost many key vets on both sides of the ball.
Can this version of the Patriots take advantage of that and win this game? They were able to beat the Bills last year with Mac Jones. I don't expect them to win on the road, but I do believe splitting would make sense due to some regression from the Bills and a solid year of building for the Patriots.
Loss
Week 17 V Chargers
This game should be circled on the calendar just like the Colts game; last year, New England was shut out in a historically bad offensive showing and still only lost 6-0. Every player on that roster, on or off the team last year, should bring some extra energy for this game. This is another game that's all about juice and pride in the organization that they play for.
If this team can muster up that fire for at least those two games and redeem last year's embarrassment, I would consider the season a success while being extremely excited for the future. I truly think they can do it with the additions they have made.
Win
Week 18 V Bills
This game is important to see how the coaching staff handles playing a divisional opponent twice in three weeks. Will they be creative enough to be successful on offense? I personally think they can and will win this game and split the season series.
Most people think the Patriots will lose all six divisional games when they won two last year. This team has a better roster and a different vibe than last year, and I think that matters. I maintain that if Mac Jones can win against the Bills, anyone can on any given Sunday.
Win
End Of Rant New England!
All the pundits say that the Patriots will win less than five games, which is a possibility, but there is another universe in which they can win nine games, as I have predicted here. It will probably be closer to 6, but this leaned toward the optimistic side. However, all of the storylines and subplots are less about faith and more about fact.
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