The New England Patriots’ players just received their Super
Bowl rings. They are still into celebrations, but while they celebrate they
need not forget that NFL does not crown a team champions for long. You never
know which new team may come out as the winner. Already we have had developments
that may jeopardize the chances of the Patriots’ winning another Super Bowl. Will
the Patriots still be able to rise to the occasion or unlikely contenders just
show them the door? This remains to be seen. However, as we know there are some
teams based on rankings and recent developments to suggest that they may be
well equipped to take on the current champions.
Indianapolis Colts
Many people would say the Colts hardly stand a chance against
the Patriots. This also seems the case considering the thrashing they received
the last time at the hands of the Patriots last season. They stand outscored at
88-31. The Colts seem to have improved with the addition of rookie Phillip
Dorsett. Dorsett is capable of lining up at different positions on the offense.
Averaging 24.2 yards per catch last season, the rookie is expected to bring
relief to the team. The Patriots seem way ahead. But this time the Colts have
come out pretty strong owing to the great work they have done in their roster.
On the other hand quarterback Andrew Luck seems to be improving all the more.
It seems he is the man who will do something extra ordinary for the team.
Pittsburgh Steelers
This is the team that the Patriots have troubled for years.
When it comes to the playoffs they are 1-3 against the Patriots and to make
matter worse they have never won a single game against the Patriots under head coach
Bill Belichick. However, despite all these odds, we have Ben Roethlisberger playing
some of the best football of his career. He has many reliable players stacked
in his team. All that the Steelers need to figure out is their defense. Once
that point is addressed, they will have the chance to give the Pats a hard
time. It seems that this point has finally been addressed after 6 of the 8
picks by the Steelers in the 2015 draft were on defense. The bad news for the Patriots
is that they may be without their quarterback Tom Brady this time.
Kansas City Chiefs
At times, some teams have the potential to strike back in
ways that will leave their opponents completely surprised and mesmerized. The
Pats faced a similar situation last season when they received a thrashing by
the Kansas City last season. So who knows? Maybe they will give in another
surprise when they meet the Pats this year. The Chiefs are lucky to have a
coach in the form of Andy Reid who knows how the inner mind of Belichick
operates. He knows and has witnessed what it will take to beat the Pats. They
have all the three aspects required to defeat the Pats: power running, strong
defense and mistake-free passing. Last meeting proved how prefect they are in
these three aspects as they came out 41-14 in a blowout. If the Chiefs manage
to stay in till January, then the Patriots will likely face a huge challenge
again.
Denver Broncos
When we speak of Peyton Manning in terms of Pats, then he
has a distinction that is held by just one more quarterback. He is the
quarterback to have won more than one playoff game against the patriots. Though
he may seem to be of little threat being 39-years old, but he still has good many
players behind his back. So if he can just remain healthy for this season, then
the Broncos have all that they need to win the game. Besides, the Broncos have
strengthened their team with the addition of quality players such as Shane Ray.
Von Miller is present as one of the best pass-rushers in the NFL. The Broncos
also have quality players at the defensive ends like Malik Jackson and Derek
Wolfe.
Baltimore Ravens
When you see the Pats for the past six seasons, no other
team has tormented them like the Ravens have. Since 2009, it has been two times
when they knocked the Pats out of the playoffs. On two other occasions they
were close to doing that again. With the necessary competent coaching, the Ravens
are in for another close game. They have a solid roster to speak of and plenty
of playoffs experience to engage in a fierce battle. So the Pats have a lot to
worry about when they face the Ravens. In fact, the Ravens are the biggest
threat to the Pats this season.
Situation still
uncertain for the Patriots
The Pats at this stage are in a dilemma. They still do not
know for certain what the future of Brady will be for the first four-games.
Brady has been suspended for four-games for his involvement in the Deflategate
scandal. The appeal against the suspension will be heard later next week, but
many are hopeful that the appeal may lift the ban altogether or at least reduce
the punishment to two-games. Whatever the situation, the Pats have not known
another quarterback since 2001. The need to bring in another quarterback never
arose as Brady came out to be someone who is now widely considered as the best quarterback
the NFL has ever produced. The only exception was way back in 2008 when Brady
was forced to take the bench due to an injury. But that was way back. How will
the Pats fare without him this time?
With Brady’s appeal scheduled for the 23rd of
June, the Pats may straight be headed for trouble if the ruling does not come
in their favor. Some of the first four-games are expected to be tough ones for
the Pats. Will they survive without Brady is a big question mark? The first
game for the Patriots comes against the Steelers. We all know how strong the
Steelers can be. They came out 11-5 last season. The Steelers are one of the
major threats that the Pats will have to face this time.
The next game is not expected to be good this time. The
Bills who are the Patriots’ toughest divisional rivals will take on the Pats.
The Bills have certainly improved under Rex Ryan. The offense has certainly
improved and the defense is one of the best in the NFL. They have two very good
contenders for the running back position. Ryan has once again come up with a
new claim saying that teams would not want to face them. Will that prove to be
true is yet to be known? However, if the Pats are going to play the game
without Brady, then Ryan’s claim may seem true to some extent.
The Pats may find some respite in their third game when they
face the Jaguars, but then tough times will be back again when they face the
Dallas Cowboys. The Pats have been considering another option if the appeal
fails. They have Jimmy Garoppolo and Matt Flynn in as possible replacement for
Brady. It seems that the Patriots are unlikely to take any chance and instead
of relying heavily on the appeal they will focus on a replacement.
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