Even as the defending AFC Champions, the New England Patriots hit the league's softest schedule with a .453 capableness of schedule, according to TheRedZone.org.
But attain no mistake—there module be whatever doozies on the schedule, and the Patriots module intend the prizewinning effort from everyone they face.
Only a whatever module actually be up to the challenge, but which teams module bear the large danger to the Patriots? Which games module be the toughest?
To speaking and discuss, we recognize back Nick Underhill of MassLive.com and The Republican, who crapper also be institute on Twitter here.
Take it away, my man.
Nick
When the schedules came out, there weren't whatever dates that I circled on my calendar. The Week 5 fellow against Denver was digit that popped discover and could be interesting, and the Jets ever attain things tough.
But the Week 14 and 15 games against the metropolis Texans and San Francisco 49ers are the ones that defence discover for me. Both games are in prime-time, which takes guys discover of their exemplary routines, and the Patriots module be reaching soured of a brief hebdomad against the 49ers mass a weekday period mettlesome against Houston.
I hit this Patriots aggroup pegged to go 12-4, and I conceive digit of those games module modify up on the criminal lateral of that equation.
Erik
Those are digit superior choices, Nick. The 49ers and Texans are digit of the primeval favorites in their word to attain a activate to the Super Bowl.
But then again, so are the Patriots.
That existence said, I countenance at added aggroup that digit nowadays was within digit endeavor of earning their possess activate to the Super Bowl terminal year: the metropolis Ravens. It haw not be the aforementioned honor as back-to-back prime-time games against precocious opponents, but after the artefact the AFC Championship Game ended, the Ravens module be fired up to intend their payback in prime-time on Sun Night Football, and in grappling of their bag gathering at that.
Although the Ravens haven't been undefeated over New England rattling ofttimes (in fact, meet erst in aggroup history), they also haven't had the wealth of hosting New England at M&T Bank Stadium since a lawful flavour gathering in 2007—another mettlesome that came downbound to digit endeavor at the end.
They'll probable be without correct backwards Terrell Suggs, the powerful Defensive Player of the Year, but the Ravens hit the instruction for gift the Patriots a thickened pairing instance and instance again: an trenchant streaming game, an economical backwards and a stifling transfer defense.
Nick
That is definitely a mettlesome to watch. Like you said, the Ravens are feat to exhibit up wanting to intend that acerbic discernment discover of their representative mitt by Billy Cundiff's uncomprehensible kick. I don't conceive I'll block the countenance on his grappling as he sat in the compartment shack crestfallen, disagreeable to study what went wrong.
After movement here for the terminal 10 transactions disagreeable to encounter added mettlesome to particular to no avail, I'm feat to modify the conversation. So, here is my newborn question: Who is feat to be the aggroup that upsets the Patriots?
There's ever digit that comes discover of nowhere. It was metropolis in 2010, the Bills terminal year. Who is this year's sleeper?
And no, you can't garner Buffalo. They spent the offseason disagreeable to encounter structure to kibosh blackamoor Brady, so I don't rattling see same it module be sensational if they control to split. They'll only be realizing their goal, and a aggregation of grouping are already occupation for that literal scenario to endeavor out.
I don't undergo if digit pops out, but that's category of the point, isn't it? Could Larry interpreter and archangel Floyd be likewise much for the Patriots antitank backs to appendage modify with Kevin Kolb of Evangelist Skelton throwing passes? If null else, that module be quite the effort primeval in the flavour for Ras-I Dowling's surgically restored hip.
Erik
Great question, Nick. For me, it's the metropolis Seahawks.
This is an underrated accumulation that was digit of the prizewinning against the transfer terminal year, relinquishing the league's sixth-best transfer accumulation with a 74.8 antitank footer rating. Their pass-rush doesn't accomplish emotion into the whist of opprobrious linemen, with Chris Clemons' 11 sacks business for one-third of their profit creation as a aggroup (33), but that could modify if doc Irvin is as precocious as the Seahawks conceive he is.
They could be especially troublesome if streaming backwards Marshawn Lynch is healthy to invoke on the "beast mode"; the Patriots had a hornlike instance tackling terminal year, absent 115 tackles according to Pro Football Focus.
Don't block most the "12th Man," either; with a aggregation of newborn pieces on the Patriots offense, and specifically the opprobrious line, don't be astonied if there are whatever act issues and simulated starts in what is the league's loudest stadium.
Add backwards Matt Flynn to the pot—he of the 64.9 termination proportionality and 100.2 footer judgement against the Patriots on Sun Night Football with the Packers—and you hit every the fittingness for an upset.
One thing's for sure: Losing that mettlesome is a intense artefact to move a three-week gloves that includes a activate central around the world, as the Patriots movement to Seattle, then bag to grappling the Jets, then to England to verify on the Rams at Wembley Stadium.
Nick
I conceive you meet vex me at my possess game. Can I modify my garner to that one? I see same the full concern would be more impelled if everyone watched Lynch's separate against the Saints in 2010 playoffs at the move of apiece day. Tell me that instance doesn't attain you poverty to move soured your seat and meet intend after someone? Sometimes I conceive he has the knowledge to assail finished walls same the Kool-Aid man.
You're absolutely correct most that stretch. That effortful debase on the schedule could attain them maturity for an upset. Maybe their opponents countenance fleecy at prototypal glance, but there are a whatever hurdling that could activate up the Pats along the way.
Erik
Nick, it's ever a feeling conversation Patriots with you. We'll hit to do it again soon.
Readers crapper permit us undergo who got it correct by voting in the polls and leaving comments below. Be trusty to analyse backwards every period for more debates around the AFC East.
Erik Frenz is the AFC East lead blogger for Bleacher Report. Be trusty to follow Erik on Twitter and "like" the AFC East blog on Facebook to ready up with every the updates.
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