It's the same song and dance every season for the New England Patriots. Year after year, their season ends with either a Super Bowl or a deep playoff run after winning the pathetic AFC East division. Skeptics wait to see when the almighty Tom Brady will let his age catch up to him but so far, he has been able to delay the inevitable. This season is no different.
After a 1-2 start, people thought this might be the year. Their two early losses both came on the road and to mediocre teams, Jacksonville and Detroit. They would go on to win six straight and just turned in an impressive performance against the Minnesota Vikings who were thought to be one of the best teams in the NFC.
The Patriots finish the season with a road game against the Steelers before returning home to face the Bills and Jets. At worst, they will win two of those games and end the season with 11 wins, possibly 12. That will be good enough for yet another AFC East title and depending how the other teams shake out, a bye or even the top seed in the AFC.
All of that being said, let's dive in and take a look at five reasons the Patriots will end up winning Super Bowl 53.
5. The Brady/Belichick Combination
It is no mystery that Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are the greatest quarterback and coach combo in NFL history. Together, they have won five Super Bowl's and been to eight. They have won 10 or more games in 15 straight seasons, which is an NFL record. The AFC East has ended with New England on top for the past nine seasons and 15 out of 17 since Brady became the starter.
Together, they have an 8-4 record in AFC Championship games. Belichick has won three Coach of the Year awards while Brady has compiled four Super Bowl MVP awards, three regular season MVP awards, two Offensive Player of the Year awards, and was the Comeback Player of the Year in 2009.
The point of all this is, with Brady and Belichick leading the way, New England is always a Super Bowl contender and will be until the two move on.
4. Success in Foxborough
As a starter, Tom Brady is 134-24 when playing at home. They are 6-0 at home so far this season and their two remaining home games are against the Bills and Jets. Another perfect home record is on the horizon.
They are currently 9-3. That is the same record as the Texans and a game behind the Chiefs. New England has a head to head win against both of them which gives them the tiebreaker.
The Chiefs finish with three home games against the Ravens, Chargers, and Raiders and one road game in Seattle. The Texans are home for the Colts and Jaguars and are on the road against the Eagles and Colts. New England has a chance to win all four of their games while Kansas City faces a tough finish. If the AFC playoffs have to run through Foxborough, you can almost pencil in New England for a trip to the Super Bowl.
3. James White's Next Step
James White put his name on the map during the Patriots' incredible 28-3 comeback against the Falcons two years ago. He carried the ball six times for 29 yards and two touchdowns including the game winner in overtime. As a receiver, he caught 14 balls for 110 yards and a touchdown.
The fifth-year back out of Wisconsin has done most of his work as a receiver in the past and last year was no different. But in 2018, he has taken the next step as a game changing weapon. White has 76 carries for 329 yards and four touchdowns while catching 74 passes for 659 yards and six touchdowns. He has three games this year with multiple touchdowns and two games with 10 receptions.
The New England backfield is always a mystery. Who can forget Stevan Ridley, Jonas Gray, or Steven Jackson. Players have seen success in the Patriots' backfield but Belichick has a quick trigger if something goes wrong. Sony Michel has taken over a majority of the snaps, but White will be on the field for most snaps thanks to his ability as a receiver.
2. Redemption
This is a bounce back year for New England after suffering a loss in last year's Super Bowl. They cruised through the AFC playoffs with a 35-14 win over the Titans and a 24-20 comeback victory over the Jaguars. They went into the Super Bowl against the Eagles and their backup quarterback Nick Foles. Unfortunately for them, they could not stop a nosebleed. They gave up 41 points and suffered a loss.
This year, Wentz is back and the Eagles are not flying high. There are a limited number of teams that can be believed in more than the Patriots and after a loss, they will be more determined than ever to get back and win the Super Bowl. This would be their eighth straight AFC Championship appearance. If they make another Super Bowl, it would mark three in a row and four in five years.
1. Poor Defenses in the AFC
The AFC is full of strong teams but there are many defenses that have struggled. The Chiefs are winning on offense, Pittsburgh has had their fair share of struggles, it is hard to believe in Houston, and the Chargers have had some key injuries. It is not out of the question that the Patriots will be able to outscore teams.
While the Patriots defense is no 1985 Bears' unit, it comes down to matchups. New England already has a head to head win against both Kansas City and Houston. They will face Pittsburgh before the season ends. Belichick can prepare for a game with any team and it is that much easier with a game under your belt against that team already.
Most teams in the NFL are winning with offense, including the Rams and Saints in the NFC. That gives offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels plenty of opportunities to score points.
At the end of the day, it all comes down to matchups. With experience against any AFC playoff team, Brady under center, and Belichick on the sideline, it is hard to go against New England no matter who they play or where the game takes place.
Follow Us
Subscribe