Pats’ prowess has to end sometime soon ... right?
JIMMY GOLEN
One of these FOXBOROUGH, MASS. seasons, the New England Patriots won’t cruise through the AFC East to an easy division title and position themselves for a Super Bowl run.
One of these seasons, 40-something quarterback Tom Brady will begin showing his age and stop putting up Mvp-calibre numbers.
His lack of options at receiver will cause the offence to stall, the defection of another co-ordinator will fatally weaken the defence and coach Bill Belichick’s cold-blooded approach to his roster will backfire.
There’s just no indication it will be 2018.
When the defending AFC champions return to the field in pursuit of their sixth NFL title, there are no credible threats in the division (and only one in the conference: a Pittsburgh Steelers team that hasn’t outlasted them in the postseason since 2010 or beaten them in the playoffs since 1997).
So while the Patriots appear to be vulnerable in several areas — tension between Brady and Belichick could be the biggest threat to the dynasty — there still doesn’t seem to be anybody ready to knock them off the post-season podium.
Here are some things to look for from the Patriots this season:
AGELESS WONDER
Brady was 40 when he won his third NFL MVP last year, leading the league in yards passing and leading the Patriots to a Super Bowl appearance for the eighth time. In the game, he threw for a record 505 yards and brought New England back from a 10-point, third-quarter deficit to take a 33-32 lead with nine minutes left.
That’s a player who is at the top of the mountain, not over the hill.
BOUNCING BACK
But Brady was unable to muster another comeback after the Eagles retook the lead and the lingering image of the game was Philadelphia quarterback Nick Foles catching a touchdown pass while Brady let the ball thrown his way bounce off his hands.
It was the third Super Bowl loss for New England in the BradyBelichick era, so how have they bounced back before?
In 2008, after a loss to the Giants in the Super Bowl spoiled New England’s hopes for an unprecedented 19-0 season, Brady was injured in Week 1 and the Patriots went 11-5 under backup Matt Cassel, but did not make the playoffs.
In 2012, after another loss to the Giants, New England went 12-4, but lost in the AFC title game to the Baltimore Ravens.
POOR RECEPTION
With the loss of Brandin Cooks (65 catches) and Danny Amendola (61), the Patriots are down their top two wide receivers from last year. Throw in Julian Edelman, who is suspended for the first four games for violating the league’s policy on performance enhancers.
Until Edelman is eligible to return for the Oct. 4 game against Indianapolis, Brady’s top targets are tight end Rob Gronkowski (69 catches), running back James White (56) and wideout Chris Hogan, who had 34 catches in nine games.
TEAM TURMOIL
The decision to bench Malcolm Butler, the hero of the 2014 championship, in this year’s Super Bowl not only cost him a reliable member of the secondary, it also raised doubts about Belichick’s judgment in New England.
Belichick has also clashed with owner Robert Kraft about the succession plan at quarterback: the coach was reportedly ready to move on from Brady to backup Jimmy Garoppolo and when Kraft took sides with the player he treats like a son, Belichick gave Garoppolo to San Francisco for the pittance of a second-round pick.
Belichick has also struggled to establish boundaries for Brady’s fitness guru Alex Guerrero, banning him from the sidelines and the team plane for a time. Guerrero was back in both places during pre-season Week 3.
CALLING THE SHOTS
Longtime defensive co-ordinator Matt Patricia left to take over as head coach of the Detroit Lions and offensive co-ordinator Josh Mcdaniels left for — and then backed out of — the top job in Indianapolis.
Belichick did not replace Patricia, but linebackers coach Brian Flores will call the plays on defence.