USA TODAY International Edition
Patriots face challenges
The reigning Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, who went 14-1 in games played by quarterback Tom Brady last season, figure to be favored in every matchup of the 2017 season. But that doesn’t mean their schedule doesn’t present potential potholes. Six games in which the Pats might be most likely to be challenged.
Thursday, vs. Kansas City Chiefs: No team has opened its season with a home loss following a Super Bowl victory since the 2012 New York Giants. The Patriots are 12-1 in Week 1 since 2004. Still, this could be a trap. The Pats will be incorporating several key additions, especially in their now LeGarrette Blount-less running game, while adapting to life without injured wideout Julian Edelman. It’s quite feasible they won’t be hitting on all cylinders out of the chute, especially against a formidable K.C. defense.
Oct. 5, at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Talented opponent. Road game. Thursday night. Potentially sweltering Florida heat. The Bucs are expected to be an explosive offensive team, and their backup quarterback, Ryan Fitzpatrick, should be able to provide a useful advanced scouting report on New England’s defense.
Oct. 22, vs. Atlanta Falcons: The Super Bowl LI rematch should again prove highly competitive, but the Falcons obviously have far more to prove after their historic meltdown than when these teams met in February. Atlanta should also be sporting an improved, deeper defense and won’t have to cope with Edelman, who was so crucial in turning the Super Bowl tide.
Nov. 19, at Oakland Raiders (in Mexico City): The Silver & Black are far more imposing since the Pats last faced them in 2014, Oakland QB Derek Carr’s rookie season. The game won’t be staged in The Black Hole, but Mexico’s Azteca Stadium brings its own hurdles, including smog and a 7,280-foot elevation — 2,000 feet higher than Denver.
Dec. 11, at Miami Dolphins: For whatever reason — humidity, the distractions of South Florida, boredom of playing middling Dolphins teams — Brady has struggled to win at Miami, going 7-8 there over his career. Conversely, when he has faced the Dolphins in Foxborough, the Pats are 13-1.
Dec. 17, at Pittsburgh Steelers: The Steelers are almost always a tough out on merit and are 2-2 in the regular season against Brady at Heinz Field when QB Ben Roethlisberger plays. And Pittsburgh might be catching New England at a vulnerable time; it will be the Patriots’ third consecutive away game and occurs six days after they play in potentially steamy Miami on a Monday night.