"Way-Too-Early" NFL 2008 Season Predictions: New England Patriots

This series of articles is way too early.  We're writing it anyway.

Here is the first of a 32-part series in which Joe, Andrew and I will make our best possible attempt to predict the outcome of the 2008 NFL Season... one team at a time.

First things first. We'll start with the team everybody loves to hate: The New England Patriots.

Week 1 vs. Chiefs

Chris: The Chiefs had without a doubt the best draft of all 32 NFL teams. They will immediately get to test the skills of DT Glenn Dorsey against one of the Offensive Line's in the league.

I'm expecting this to be closer than most will anticipate, but in the end the Patriots are just too good for a developing team like the Chiefs to take down... especially since the Pats are likely to be playing with a chip on their shoulder after an astonishing Super Bowl loss last February.

Pats: 21
Chiefs: 13

Andrew: The Chiefs will have some great new defensive talent, and will want to showcase it to the best team in the AFC. This game will be close, but not close enough for Kansas City to win. New England simply has too many great threats and will dominate on the defensive side of the ball.

Pats 17 Chiefs 10

Joe: All the weapons for the Pats will be tested by an interesting Chiefs team in game 1. I think that Glenn Dorsey trying to get to Tom Brady will be interesting, along with Brandon Albert trying to block the Pats defensive linemen like Vince Wilfork. I think that the Pats prevail, but mainly because I don't trust the Chiefs offense.

Pats 20-Chiefs 10

The Decision: Patriots take the win and start the season at 1-0.

Week 2 @ Jets:

Chris: With memories of Spygate churning in Tom Brady's head, expect him and Randy Moss to hook up a few times in this game.

Now, I'm no Jets expert... but it seems like they have a lot of questions on both sides of the ball. I don't think they'll be answering any of those questions in this game.

Pats: 38
Jets: 10

Andrew: The Jets improved over the off-season, but it won't be enough for the powerhouse Patriots. The opening kickoff will be returned for a touchdown, and New England will never look back.

Pats 45 Jets 14

Joe: I feel bad for the Jets because they are about to get demolished by the Pats. I don't think I really need to note key match-ups because, well, there won't really be any.

Pats 33-Jets 7

The Decision: Pats roll to 2-0.

Week 3 vs. Dolphins

Chris: I'm expecting the Dolphins to have a better season this year than they did last year.... mostly because it'd be kinda hard not to.

The Dolphins usually play the Pats pretty tough, and this game won't be any different. The Pats won't lose this one though.

Pats: 28
Dolphins: 21

Andrew: It makes me sick how easy a schedule the Patriots have this season. Miami should get the ball rolling in the right direction sometime this year, but not by the third week. The Dolphins might not even have an offensive touchdown as this point.

Pats 21 Dolphins 3

Joe: Yet another easy game for the Pats. Jake Long will be fine, but the Pats are just going to run over the other 4 guys on the line. Tom Brady will have all the time in the world to hit the wide open wide receivers

Pats 27-Dolphins 3

The Decision: Patriots keep winning, move to 3-0.

Week 4 - Bye

Week 5 @ 49ers

Chris: If Alex Smith is still San Francisco's starting quarterback going into week five, they will not stand a chance. However, if Shaun Hill is plugged in, he'll be playing with a purpose trying to prove that he should remain under center.

I'm going to guess Smith is still in there.

Pats: 35
49ers: 10

Andrew: Alex Smith is not the answer in San Francisco. The 49ers should address this need in the 2009 draft, but for now they are forced to either go with Smith or suffer the consequences. Patriots in yet another blowout.

Pats 35 49ers 7

Joe: The Pats continue an easy schedule as the roll through San Fransisco for yet another blow out victory. Alex Smith spends a lot of time on his back and Randy Moss spends a lot of time in the end zone.

Pats 30-49ers 10

The Decision: Niners don't stand a chance, Pats make it 4-0.

Week 6 @ Chargers

Chris: This should be a matchup of unbeatens, and the Chargers will probably be fired up for this one, given the playoff history between the two.

I'm thinking the Chargers will simply want this one more.

Pats: 17
Chargers: 31

Andrew: There is tons of hype about the Colts-Patriots rivalry, but what about the Bolts-Patriots rivalry? New England seems to have San Diego's number in the playoffs, and the Chargers should come out rolling as they seek revenge. Extremely close game, and should be very exciting television.

Pats 24 Chargers 27

Joe: The first real test is going to be a tough one for the Pats. I think that they suffer their first loss of the season and we can all end the talk of another perfect season. Ladanian Tomlinson will hit it big and Cromartie will have at least 1 interception.

Pats 17-Chargers 24

The Decision: It's unanimous... Patriots lose and talks of going undefeated are put to rest at 4-1.

Week 7 vs. Broncos

Chris: Denver finally made an attempt to fix their offensive line, by drafting Ryan Clady. They still have a few holes to fix before they can challenge the Patriots in New England. Plus, the Patriots usually play pretty well one week after a loss.

Pats: 52
Broncos: 17

Andrew: When is the last time New England lost two games in a row? Weeks 9 and 10 of the 2006, if I'm not mistaken. It shouldn't happen again as the Patriots avenge their newly-soiled record.

Pats 28 Broncos 10

Joe: The Pats will bounce back against the Broncos. The Pats don't get depressed at the perfect season being over already, they get pissed and take out a lot of anger on the Broncos.

Pats 42-Broncos 14

The Decision: Pats bounce back, move to 5-1.

Week 8 vs. Rams

Chris: The Rams were supposed to be pretty good in 2007. We all know how that turned out. They haven't done much to add talent to the team either. Expect this one to never be close.

Pats: 35
Rams: 3

Andrew: The Rams may have something going in St. Louis by this time in the season, but it shouldn't be enough for the Patriots. The game may be close for a while, but New England should slam the door closed eventually.

Pats 35 Rams 24

Joe: Another bottom-of-the-barrel team is going to be run over by Hurricane Belichick. He gets the Pats firing on all cylinders to completely destroy the Rams.

Pats 49-Rams 10

The Decision: Patriots win and improve their record to 6-1.

Week 9 @ Colts

Chris: One of the NFL's best rivalries continues. You can debate which of these teams is better all day long, but in the end, it's usually whoever has the ball last.

Pats: 34
Colts: 31

Andrew: Remember all the hype that led up to last years matchup between these two? This year it should be about the same, but with different results.

Pats 14 Colts 17 in OT

Joe: The Colts are going to be good this year, but the Pats are going to be better. Probably the best game of the year for all of the NFL, this one goes past the final seconds.

Pats 24-Colts 21 in OT

The Decision: Everyone agrees that it will be close, but the Pats get the win (7-1).

Week 10 vs. Bills

Chris: Really? Week ten and the Patriots are just now playing the Bills?

By this time, the Bills may have secured quite a bit of confidence, and could offer a real challenge for New England. Bill Belichick will find a way to contain Marshawn Lynch though.

Pats: 13
Bills: 7

Andrew: Buffalo has really been a sleeper team recently. They tend to hang in games only to drop them at the last minute. The new offensive weapons the Bills picked up this year should help them stay in this game with New England, but don't expect a miracle.

Pats 17 Bills 13

Joe: After a draining game against the Colts and facing a good team like the Bills, this one will be closer than Pats-Bills games usually go.

Pats 17-Bills 13

The Decision: Patriots win this one, move to 8-1.

Week 11 vs. Jets

Chris: More of the same from week two. The Patriots have no problem steamrolling New York as they begin to think about playoff seeding.

Pats: 31
Jets: 6

Andrew: This game may make prime-time not because of the actual game, but because of the Belichick-Mangini duel. It shouldn't be the highest watched game ever recorded...

Pats 48 Jets 10

Joe: The Pats are going to be mad that the first game against the Jets was to close. Belichick will instruct his team to not stop scoring until the final second.

Pats 52-Jets 7

The Decision: Seems like we're all in agreement that the Jets won't have much luck against New England this season. Pats march on... 9-1.

Week 12 @ Dolphins

Chris: It's only logical to assume that the Dolphins organization has found their stride by now, and are ready to show their fans that there really is promise of coming out of the cellar sooner than later. Miami upsets the Patriots, handing them their second loss of the season.

Pats: 17
Dolphins: 28

Andrew: The Dolphins should at least have some offensive power and defensive stoppers by this time in the season. They won't repeat last years dismal performance, but they will hang in this game for as long as they are capable of.

Pats 24 Dolphins 17

Joe: Same thing happens as the first game against the Dolphins, sorry guys.

Pats 33-Dolphins 10

The Decision: Pats win another one, move to 10-1 on the season.

Week 13 vs. Steelers

Chris: The Patriots will have trouble stopping the running attack from Pittsburgh, but the Steelers will need more than that to top the Pats.

Pats: 38
Steelers: 14

Andrew: I really think Belichick has a sleeper agent inside the commish's office. This is one of only a handful of challenging games the New England has this year. It will be a great game to watch, and should be close up until the final seconds. Actually, New England will kick a last-second field goal to win the game.

Pats 17 Steelers 14

Joe: I have some personal feelings about this game, therefore Rashard Mendenhall goes for 550 yards and 10 touchdowns. Not really, but it would be nice. Good game too.

Pats 24-Steelers 20

The Decision: Patriots continue to win, find themselves at 11-1 going into week fourteen.

Week 14 @ Seahawks

Chris: While the Seahawks added an important dimension to their offense when they picked up Julius Jones... it won't be enough. They will need to make some moves on defense if they want to hang with the Pats.

Pats: 45
Seahawks: 21

Andrew: Seattle gained a great running threat this off-season, but it won't be enough for the high-riding Patriots.

Pats 17 Seahawks 7

Joe: The Seahawks made some moves this season, but they won't be able to hang with the Pats

Pats 33-Seahawks 14

The Decision: New England handles the Seahawks and improves to 12-1.

Week 15 @ Raiders

Chris: Believe it or not, the Raiders will be well on their way out of the basement, and might even still be in the playoff hunt in week fourteen. Oakland will keep this one close... right up until the final whistle.

Pats: 17
Raiders: 14

Andrew: The only thing that could possibly keep Oakland in this game in the fourth quarter are they fans. I may have to watch this game just to see how Russell is coming along.

Pats 38 Raiders 10

Joe: The Raiders will be either be decent or bad, depending on how well JaMarcuss Russel is coming along. Either way the Pats will win.

Pats 27-Raiders 20

The Decision: Raiders aren't together enough... Pats win (13-1).

Week 16 vs. Cardinals

Chris: The Cards will be a good NFC team in 2008, but not good enough to hang with New England. Monty Biesel might have a few surprises for the Pats, since he spent a few years on the team... but it won't be nearly enough.

Pats: 24
Cards: 17

Andrew: The Cardinals have the offensive weapons to hang with New England in a shootout, but can't stop them when it counts.

Pats 42 Cardinals 35

Joe: The Cards aren't going to be able to play anywhere close to the Pats, mainly because Matt Lienart will be quarterbacking somewhere between drunk and hung-over.

Pats 37-Cardinals 13

The Decision: Cards can't hang... New England moves to 14-1.

Week 17 @ Bills

Chris: The Patriots might be playing their bench in this one, allowing their starters to rest as they head into the playoffs. The Bills, on the other hand... could be fighting for a wild-card spot. Bills should take this one.

Pats: 10
Bills: 28

Patriots Final Record: 13-3

Andrew: Knowing Belichick and the Patriots, the starters will be playing for New England in this final week matchup. Regardless, the Bills will show up and be extremely noisy as they battle for a Wild Card spot.

Pats 14 Bills 24

Pats Final Record: 13-3

Joe: The Bills could be using this game to try to get into the playoffs while the Pats will be well on their way to a playoff spot. The Bills will steal this one because of the fact that they need it and the Pats don't.

Pats 17-Bills 24

Pats Final Record: 14-2

The Final Decision: Bills finish the Patriots season on a losing note. The Patriots head to the playoffs with a 14-2 record.