Super Bowl Issues Continue To Hurt Patriots

    Ok so many people will say that this is only preseason games and they do not really mean anything once opening weekend begins, but they do in fact raise some concerns for the New England Patriots. First off how severe is Tom Brady's injury. The Patriots say that they expect him back for the opener and keeping him out is only a precautionary measures but the question is will this injury effect him all season. An ankle injury will effect a quarterback with his drop back and planting his foot. If it does effect Brady enough to make him sit out, the Patriots would have to rely on back ups Gutierrez, who is 66.7% completion rate with 2 touch downs and one interception or Cassel who has been less then productive with his starts in the preseason barely moving the ball at all. The other question regarding the Patriots offense is the line. They have allowed 9 sacks in 3 preseason games so far and has allowed constant pressure forcing their quarterbacks into bad choices. Brady can not be on his back if the Patriots want to win this season. The offense is only averaging 14 points in the preseason and 84.7 rushing yards a game which is 27th in the NFL. Tampa Bay and the Eagles were both able to stuff any rushing attempts the first string Patriots tried. Remember that the line is the starting unit that will go into the season, that's a big concern in keeping Brady upright and the offense moving.

    Now on defense there is a huge question mark for the Pats. Mainly what the Giants exposed in the Superbowl and what the Buccaneers and Eagles have capitalized in the preseason. The defense has an average of 3.6 yards a carry and 4.9 total yards a play (passing and rushing). The defense, at least to this point, has not been able to hold the rushing attacks of opposing teams and have not been able to pursue fast enough after the play has gotten past the front 7. This could be the age factor coming into effect as well. The Pats defense is made up of mainly old vets, other then rookie Mayo. When teams decide to pass on the Pats they have found great success as well picking up 574 yards in just 3 games and allowing 3 passing scores while only picking off teams once. The middle of the field seems to always be open, as Eagles tight ends proved in the Eagles game. The defense will have to improve greatly once the season begins.  

    The Patriots will begin the season against the Kansas City Chiefs, who are still in the rebuilding process so that should be a win for New England to get the season started 1-0. Week two pits Brady vs Farve as the Patriots travel to New York. Although the Jets will be better then last year and put up a fight i cant see them beating New England yet so the Pats will move to 2-0, then 4-0 with wins over very young and rebuilding Miami and 49er teams. Then week 6 is the game that interests me. Will the Pats defense be able to stop LT and the fast paced Charger offense. I really don't think that they will be able to as the Chargers offense is far better then any they have faced in the preseason so the Pats will drop to 4-1. Week 9 should pit a 6-1 Pats team against a Colts team making a playoff push. If Manning is healthy then again i am not sure if the Pats would be able to keep up with the Colts fast team on both sides of the ball. This should be the Pats second loss of the season. Week 11 could be a very interesting match up of two teams pushing for the playoffs as the Jets face off against the Pats again. This time, with more time under their belts to mold i believe the Jets will hand New England their third loss of the season, a devastating loss. Weeks 13 and 14 will pit New England against two playoff bound teams in Pittsburgh and Seattle. The Steelers should be able to run on the Pats and with their addition of speedy receiver Sweed, I'm not sure if the Pats will be able to hold them down. I see a shoot out in this game as the Steelers win for the Pats fourth loss of the season. Week 14 should be a tight game as well as the Seahawks should be fighting for their division crown at this point. I see a back and fourth game as Seattle holds on for the Pats 5th loss. At this point New England should stand at 8-5 with a fairly easy end of season coming up. They should easily beat Oakland to move to 9-5 and should just beat Arizona to improve to 10-5. The season finale against Buffalo could be interesting as the Bills could be pushing for a playoff birth. I just dont thing that the Bills have the fire power yet to win and should just lose to New England. The Pats should finish 11-5 and win the division crown. In the playoffs the Pats should face Jacksonville again and beat them but lose in the AFC Title game to either the Colts or Pittsburgh.

    Although a 11-5 season is not dissapointing at all it is far off from the 16-0 season from last year. The Pats should be able to beat the curse of superbowl losers but it is unlikely they will make the superbowl.