16-0: Is It Possible Twice In A Row?: New England Patriots 2008 Preview

18-1: a great record. Except for that one loss. A sour loss for the New England Patriots. The Patriots pulled off 18 wins in a row last season, and went undefeated in the regular season. It looked like they had the Super Bowl won before it even began. Can the Patriots go 16-0 again?

2007:
18-1
Rushing: 13th 
Passing: 1st
Total Offense: 1st
Run Defense: 10th
Pass Defense: 6th
Total Defense: 4th

The Patriots best off season move was picking up DB Fernando Bryant and SS John Lynch. The Patriots lost CB Asante Samuel to the Eagles, but they have a history of letting big name players who ask for large sums of cash, walk.

If the Patriots want to have success this year, Tom Brady and Randy Moss are going to have to do what they did last year. If both can remain healthy, the team will be in good shape.

Laurence Maroney will have to step it up this year. If Maroney can run the ball well along side Sammy Morris and Kevin Faulk, they'll give more opportunities to Randy Moss and Wes Welker, who needs to have another big year in order for the Pats to succeed, downfield.

On the defensive side, the Patriots will need strong play from their veteran linebackers and as well as rookie Jerod Mayo. Without Samuel in the mix, the Patriots will need Bryant to step up and play a big role in a secondary that needs help.

OFFENSE
Wide Receiver	83 Wes Welker	17 Chad Jackson	88 Sam Aiken 18 Matthew Slater
Left Tackle	72 Matt Light	65 Wesley Britt
Left Guard	70 Logan Mankins	71 Russ Hochstein	64 Stephen Sene
Center	67 Dan Koppen	63 Dan Connolly	71 Russ Hochstein 75 Mike Flynn
Right Guard	74 Billy Yates	69 John Welbourn
Right Tackle	77 Nick Kaczur	76 Oliver Ross	60 Jimmy Martin
Tight End	84 Benjamin Watson	86 David Thomas	82 Stephen Spach 85 Jonathan Stupar 46 Tyson DeVree
Wide Receiver	81 Randy Moss	10 Jabar Gaffney	15 Kelley Washington 41 Ray Ventrone 19 C.J. Jones
Quarterback	12 Tom Brady	16 Matt Cassel	7 Matt Gutierrez 5 Kevin O'Connell
Running Back	39 Laurence Maroney	33 Kevin Faulk	34 Sammy Morris 32 LaMont Jordan 42 BenJarvus Green-Ellis
Fullback	44 Heath Evans

DEFENSE
Left Defensive End	94 Ty Warren	99 Mike Wright	90 Le Kevin Smith 95 Kenny Smith
Nose Tackle	75 Vince Wilfork	69 Steve Fifta	62 Titus Adams
Right Defensive End	93 Richard Seymour	97 Jarvis Green	92 Santonio Thomas
Outside Linebacker	50 Mike Vrabel	58 Pierre Woods	49 Vince Redd
Inside Linebacker	51 Jerod Mayo	59 Victor Hobson	91 Bo Ruud
Inside Linebacker	54 Tedy Bruschi	52 Eric Alexander	53 Larry Izzo
Outside Linebacker	96 Adalius Thomas	98 Shawn Crable	48 Gary Guyton
Left Cornerback	25 Fernando Bryant	29 Lewis Sanders	35 Mike Richardson 23 Jeff Shoate
Right Cornerback	27 Ellis Hobbs	22 Terrence Wheatley	24 Jonathan Wilhite
Strong Safety	37 Rodney Harrison	31 Brandon Meriweather	30 Mark Dillard
Free Safety	36 James Sanders	47 John Lynch	28 Antwain Spann

SPECIAL TEAMS
Place Kicker	3 Stephen Gostkowski	6 Chris Hanson
Punter	6 Chris Hanson	3 Stephen Gostkowski
Holder	6 Chris Hanson	16 Matt Cassel
Long Snapper	66 Lonie Paxton	71 Russ Hochstein
Kickoff Returner	17 Chad Jackson	18 Matthew Slater
Punt Returner	83 Wes Welker	19 C.J Jones	17 Chad Jackson

Rookie and first-year players are listed in italics.
Courtesy of www.patriots.com

The schedule for the Patriots this year is very soft compared to a tough schedule that they breezed through last year. The Pats open up at home against the Chiefs, then  travel to the Meadowlands to take on Brett Favre and the Jets the following week. I don't believe that the Jets will challenge the Pats even with Favre in the mix. I think the Patriots will take the division with ease again this year. In fact, I don't see them losing a division game all year.

	Sun 9/7/2008	1:00 PM	vs	Chiefs	CBS / WBZ Channel 4
	Sun 9/14/2008	4:15 PM	@	Jets	CBS / WBZ Channel 4
	Sun 9/21/2008	1:00 PM	vs	Dolphins	CBS / WBZ Channel 4
	Sun 9/28/2008		vs	Bye
	Sun 10/5/2008	4:15 PM	@	49ers	CBS / WBZ Channel 4
	Sun 10/12/2008	8:15 PM	@	Chargers	NBC / WHDH Channel 7
	Mon 10/20/2008	8:30 PM	vs	Broncos	ESPN / WCVB Channel 5
	Sun 10/26/2008	1:00 PM	vs	Rams	Fox / WFXT Ch. 25
	Sun 11/2/2008	8:15 PM	@	Colts	NBC / WHDH Channel 7
	Sun 11/9/2008	1:00 PM	vs	Bills	CBS / WBZ Ch. 4
	Thu 11/13/2008	8:15 PM	vs	Jets	NFL Network / WCVB Ch. 5
	Sun 11/23/2008	1:00 PM	@	Dolphins	CBS / WBZ Ch. 4
	Sun 11/30/2008	4:15 PM	vs	Steelers	CBS / WBZ Ch. 4
	Sun 12/7/2008	8:15 PM	@	Seahawks	NBC / WHDH Ch.7
	Sun 12/14/2008	4:15 PM	@	Raiders	CBS / WBZ Ch. 4
	Sun 12/21/2008	1:00 PM	vs	Cardinals	Fox / WFXT Ch.25
	Sun 12/28/2008	1:00 PM	@	Bills	CBS / WBZ Ch. 4

Courtesy of www.patriots.com

The only games that the Patriots have a slight chance of losing are at the Chargers, vs. the Broncos, when they visit the Colts, vs. the Steelers, and at Seattle. I believe that the Patriots will breeze through this schedule.

In the end, the Patriots will go 16-0 again. Led by the running of Sammy Morris and Laurence Maroney, which will open up Randy Moss, Jabar Gaffney, and Wes Welker. Bill Belichick will hold his grudge and crush every opponent by 50 and he will walk off the field with out shaking the other coach's hand.

Patriots complete the goal this year going 19-0