Why The New England Patriots Will Not Win The Super Bowl.

Tom Brady is the best quarterback playing in the NFL today, and one of the top five of all-time.  There are few teams that would not gladly trade their starter for Brady. This article is not about that.

The New England Patriots enter the 2009 NFL season with a chip on its shoulder.  Last year, the Miami Dolphins captured the AFC East crown from the Patriots for the first time since 2000.

Since the beginning of the decade, the Patriots have won the AFC East title six of the eight possible years, including five in a row, prior to Miami stealing it last year.

In that time, the Patriots had their "dynasty" years as one of the greatest teams ever, staking their claim to the team of the decade discussion.

After losing Brady in the first game of the 2008 season, the teams chances of repeating an undefeated season left with him.  With Matt Cassel under center, the Patriots hoped to make it to the playoffs with a kid that had not started a game since high school.

The Patriots finished with a 11-5 record, failing to reach the playoffs by virtue of a tie breaker that sent the Baltimore Ravens to the playoffs, where they made it to the AFC Championship game.

With a healthy Brady back, that Patriots and their faithful now have hope to pick up where they left off in 2007, with the expectations of again capturing the AFC East championship and making it back to the Super Bowl.

But it just is not going to happen.  Here is why.

After the major knee injury that Brady suffered last year, an injury that takes two full years to heal completely, the first question becomes, can he stay healthy for 19 games?

There was much talk about additional surgeries Brady would possibly have to have.  Fortunately, the knee held up, and no additional surgery is required.

The injury was still to his plant leg, the leg he pushes off when he throws.  If Brady is going to be able to have the success the Patriots are hoping for, they are going to have to take a lot of the pressure off of making him throw a lot.

One of the only issues with Brady throwing, other than the injury, will be his timing with Randy Moss and Wes Welker.  That will come in time, but hopefully, Brady will not be used much in the pre season, for risk of re-injury.

The Patriots are going to have to rely on their running game considerably more than they have in the past if they are going to be as successful passing the ball.

There are many questions concerning the running game.  Fred Taylor was brought in as insurance to Laurence Maroney.  Maroney has had injury issues himself, missing all but two games last year.

Kevin Faulk is a great third down back, but better catching the ball than he is running it, and that is not what the Patriots are needing.

Defense.

The biggest blow the Patriots took in the off season, was the loss of Rodney Harrison.  Even though his skills were diminishing, Harrison was a leader on the field.  He had an amazing ability to know where the ball was going to be, and how to get there.  He also knew how to hit when he did.

How valuable would the services of Harrison be to train the rookie that is set to take his place, Patrick Chung?

The starting corners are slated to be Leigh Bodden, who played for the winless Detroit Lions last year, and Jonathan Wilhite set to start. Shawn Springs was brought in for leadership.

Springs was one of the premier corners when he was younger, but can not be expected to shut down any of the top tier players in the AFC.

With a host of young talent, namely Chung and Darius Butler, drafted out of the University of Connecticut, there is a lot of potential for great things in the future.

I just don't see them contributing very much in the coming year.

You can expect big things from the defensive line, with Vince Wilfork in his contract year, and Richard Seymour always a great player, the run stoppers should be good.

The biggest issues are at linebacker.  Jarod Mayo was the steal of the draft last year after the Patriots chumpped the Jets into thinking they wanted Vernon Gholston, who showed NOTHING his rookie season.

Teddy Bruschi is 36 years old, and Adalius Thomas is 32.  There is also talk of possibly bringing back Junior Seau.

I believe that the Patriots are going to recapture their AFC East crown.  I think they may also make a strong playoff push. 

With the deficiencies they have in their secondary, and the age of the linebackers, added to the lack of a running game, I just don't think the Patriots are going to be playing in Miami come February.