Week 1: vs. Miami Dolphins
It looks like the schedule makers reverted to the 2020 season because the Patriots face the Miami Dolphins again, in Foxboro, in the first week of the season. Assuming Cam Newton starts week 1 for the Patriots, this will show once again, the Patriots had no plan regarding the Quarter Back position. The Patriots beat the Dolphins 21-11 where Newton ran over them with 15 carries, getting 75 yds. and 2 TDs. If Mac Jones starts week one for the Patriots, this will be an Alabama duel with Jones facing off against Tua Tagovailoa.
Prediction: Patriots Win (1-0)
Week 2: at New York Jets
Bill Belichick loves facing rookie Quarterbacks. He is 21-6 facing a rookie QB. The last rookie QB that beat Belichick was Geno Smith from the Jets in week 7 of the 2013 season. Since then, he has faced, notably, Deshaun Watson in 2017 (won 36-33), Josh Allen in 2018 (won 24-12), and Justin Herbert last year (won 45-0).
Prediction: Patriots Win (2-0)
Week 3: vs. New Orleans Saints
It is going to be weird not seeing Drew Brees at the helm for the Saints. It is the first year that he has been out of the league since 2001. The Saints still have “names” on their team including Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas, but I think that Jameis Winston will make a mistake that will cost the Saints. You also will know that Taysom Hill will be in there for some snaps because Sean Payton loves him. I do not see him as a QB with all of the throws he makes and is just another overrated gadget player.
Prediction: Patriots win a close one (3-0)
Week 4: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Mark it on your calendar… Sunday October 3rd at 8:20 PM on Sunday Night Football. Tom Brady vs. Bill Belichick, Tom Brady’s return to Foxboro, Rob Gronkowski’s return to Foxboro. All eyes should be on this game and I predict it will be one or the most watched regular season game ever for the NFL. Tom Brady could even break Drew Brees’ passing yard record at Gillette Stadium, if things break right. The Bucs have brought back all of their 22 starters from last year and the Super Bowl champions will not miss a beat in Massachusetts.
Prediction: Patriots lose (3-1)
Week 5: at Houston Texans
No one knows what is happening to Deshaun Watson. Will one of his 22 allegations be true and make him be forced to be suspended? Will he sit out for the whole year because of his dislike of the team? Will Watson get traded to another team? This Houston Texans team has way too many question marks coming into the 2021 season and have no talent, after Deshaun Watson.
Prediction: Patriots win (4-1)
Week 6: vs. Dallas Cowboys
This is the game that was added to the 2021 schedule when the NFL announced that it was going from 16 to 17 regular season games. This year the AFC has 9 home games and 8 away games and the NFC has 9 away games and 8 home games, but next year it will be flipped for both conferences. I expect a close game between these two teams but currently I want to see how Dak Prescott’s ankle/leg is before I make any hard predictions on this Dallas Cowboys team
Prediction: Patriots win a close one (5-1)
Week 7: vs. New York Jets
This will be the second look for the Jets and second overall pick, Zach Wilson versus the Patriots. The Patriots have won 10 consecutive meetings against this team and 10 consecutive wins at home versus the Jets, even with Newton has their QB last year. I think Zach Wilson will be good but it will be a long season for New York, but their future is bright…
Prediction: Patriots sweep the Jets (6-1)
Week 8: at Los Angeles Chargers
The last time they faced each other was last year when the Patriots beat them 45-0 and ultimately lead the Chargers to fire Anthony Lynn because of this game, in my opinion. The raining rookie of the year is playing in his second year and the Chargers have hired new head coach, Brandon Staley (former DC for the Rams). I have high expectations for this Chargers team and the Chiefs better not “sleep walk” to the Super Bowl like they did last year because the Chargers will be at their heels all season long
Prediction: Patriots lose (6-2)
Week 9: at Carolina Panthers
Sam Darnold was traded from the New York Jets to the Carolina Panthers for their 6th round pick in this years draft (Johnathan Marshall) and 2nd & 4th round picks in next years draft. When Darnold was on the Jets, he faced the Patriots 3 times, losing all 3. He has 6 INTs with only 1 TD and a passing completion percentage of 53.2 %. I hope Darnold doesn’t see ghosts again…
Patriots win comfortably (7-2)
Week 10: vs. Cleveland Browns
This Browns team is obviously on the rise, with Cleveland making the playoffs for the first time since 2002. I love their talent on all sides of the ball with Hunt, Chubb, OBJ, Landry, Vernon, Clowney, & Garrett. I have high expectations for this team. They were one play away from getting the ball back in the divisional round against the Chiefs, until Hill caught the ball on 4th down. I think this team is talented enough to go to the Super Bowl, which they have not done ever.
Prediction: Patriots lose (7-3)
Week 11: at Atlanta Falcons
Unless you have been living under a rock, there will be a lot of “28-3” jokes for this game after the Patriots beat the Falcons in Super Bowl LI. The Falcons will never live that down, ever. They should have just ran the ball on 3rd and 1 instead of Ryan dropping back and passing. Matt Ryan is 0-3 versus the Patriots in his career. I think the Falcons offense, with new addition Kyle Pitts, will come up short, trying to keep up with the Patriots offense, a story that has plagued the Falcons for many seasons…
Prediction: Patriots win a close one (8-3)
Week 12: vs. Tennessee Titans
Now the Patriots schedule gets hard… I still can’t get the image out of my head was the divisional round pick 6 to end the Patriots season in 2019 and end Brady’s career in New England. Derrick Henry was offensive player of the year and rightfully so with 2,027 yards and 17 TDs. I hope the Titans will not run on the Patriots as much as the Patriots let up last year. The Patriots have addressed the defensive line with the aquisitions of Davon Godchaux, Matthew Judon, and Christian Barmore, but I still think Henry will have a field day. Bill Belichick is famous for taking away your “top guy” and letting someone else beat them, but I think Henry will have no problem running over this defense.
Prediction: Patriots lose a close one (8-4)
Week 13: at Buffalo Bills
The Bills were in the AFC Championship game last year versus the Chiefs because of Josh Allen’s and Stefon Diggs’ year last year. I think the Bills will return to the “pack” this year, but will be fighting with the Patriots all year for the AFC East
Prediction: Patriots lose (8-5)
Week 14: BYE
This is the latest the Patriots have got a bye week since 2001. This will be a hard test for the Patriots, playing 13 straight games before their bye. For the last 5 years, the Super Bowl winners have had their byes in consecutive years (Patriots in LI with a week 9 bye week, Eagles win LII with a week 10 bye week, Patriots with a week 11 bye week, Chiefs with a week 12 bye week, and the Bucs with a week 13 bye week). The Patriots, Eagles, Jags, and Colts all have a week 14 bye so they all have a “chance for history” to repeat itself.
Prediction: Patriots will get much needed rest
Week 15: at Indianapolis Colts
Even with Phillip Rivers, I have been saying for years that the Colts are only a QB away by making a serious Super Bowl run. They have a legit defense, offensive line, & Jonathan Taylor as their RB. The only downside is their receiving core, with TY Hilton and Michael Pittman as their top threats. The Colts will be poised to win the AFC South with Carson Wentz reuniting with head coach Frank Reich, in their days in Philly.
Prediction: Patriots lose 3 straight (8-6)
Week 16: vs. Buffalo Bills
The Bills haven’t beat the Patriots on the road in consecutive seasons since 1999 and 2000. Last year is the first time that the Bills have swept the Patriots since 2000 and I predict that the Bills will do it again in 2021.
Prediction: Patriots lose 4 straight (8-7)
Week 17: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Patriots will welcome number one overall pick, Trevor Lawrence to town. As I said in week 2, Bill Belichick is 21-6 versus rookie QBs in their first start, and after his win in week 2, he will be 22-6. I don’t see anything different in this matchup. Even though Trevor Lawrence is “once in a generation” talent, Belichick will expose his flaws.
Prediction: Patriots snap the 4 game losing streak (9-7)
Week 18: at Miami Dolphins
I know that Miami has been a difficult place to play for the Patriots in recent memory. Since 2013, the Patriots are 2-6 at Miami, when facing the Dolphins. The Patriots will be in a must win if they have any shot for the AFC East or the last spots in the wild card but Mac Jones/Cam Newton will have the new improved offense firing at all cylinders.
Prediction: Patriots win a close one and clinch a wild card spot (10-7)