After a crazy offseason, the New England Patriots are about to start the 2020 NFL season with a matchup against the Miami Dolphins. While there are still a ton of questions surrounding the franchise, there are numerous reasons to be excited.

Bill Belichick and company are a new-look football team for the first time in a long time. Tom Brady chose to leave the Patriots in free agency to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. To replace him, the Patriots made a late free agency move to sign former MVP quarterback Cam Newton, who was released by the Carolina Panthers earlier in the offseason.

Newton is just one of the reasons that New England fans should still be excited about the Patriots. Even with the departure of Brady and how many players chose to opt out of the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they still have a very talented all-around roster. It won't be easy, but the Patriots are still more than capable of contending in the AFC.

Going up against the Dolphins has not been an easy task for the Patriots in recent years. They have struggled with Miami. Hopefully, a new era means a new start when it comes to competing against the Dolphins.

All of that being said, let's go ahead and take a look at three bold predictions for the Patriots in Week 1 against the Dolphins.

3. The Patriots Force Five Turnovers

Defensively, there are some question marks surrounding the Patriots. Patrick Chung and Dont'a Hightower opted out of the season, which is a major blow for New England. Despite losing those two players, the Patriots still have quite a few high-profile defensive players who will be able to step up and fill the void.

At this point in time, the Dolphins are expected to start Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback. Tua Tagovailoa is on the roster, but the Dolphins are going to be very careful with putting him on the field. New England will make things very difficult for Fitzpatrick.

By the end of the game, the Patriots will have forced five total turnovers. Whether they come through interceptions or forced fumbles, the Patriots' defense will be all over Miami.

2. Cam Newton Turns Back The Clock

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While the Patriots allowed Newton and Jarrett Stidham to have a quarterback battle in training camp, Newton was always going to be the starter. Reports have surfaced that Belichick has made his decision and Newton will indeed be the team's starting quarterback.

Now that he has been named the starter, Newton will be watched closely this week. Not only will he live up to the hype, he will actually turn back the clock and look like a star once again.

Injuries have derailed the former MVP's career, but a new start with the Patriots is exactly what the doctor ordered for him. New England will see Newton rack up at least 300 passing yards and three touchdowns. He will also end the game with 30-40 yards on the ground.

1. New England Starts Off Their New Era With A Win

Finally, and most importantly, the Patriots are going to get a win to start their new era without Brady. Getting off to a quick start will be important for this team moving forward. Newton will help ease everyone's minds with his big debut.

New England will never be satisfied with mediocrity as long as Belichick is head coach and running the front office. He made that clear with the move to sign Newton instead of sticking with Stidham. The Patriots are not going to be a pushover team this year.

They may not end up competing for another Super Bowl, but they are going to be a playoff contender and will be in the mix for the AFC East division title when everything is said and done. It all starts in Week 1 and they will prove that they deserve more attention.