The NFL released its regular season schedule recently. The New England Patriots opponents in 2014 were a combined 132-123 in the 2013 regular season, and 6 out of the 13 teams made the playoffs in 2013.
Let’s break down the Patriots week by week matchups, with some score predictions as well.
Week 1: @ Miami Dolphins
Miami played New England twice in 2013, and both games stayed close until late in the 4th quarter (The second game of the season went down to the very last second of regulation.) Miami seems to be able to compete with the Patriots; however New England is 10-2 on the first game of the season since 2001. New England will start the season strong with a win in week one, but look for Miami to keep it close.
Final Score: NE: 21 MIA: 17
W-L: 1-0
Week 2: @ Minnesota Vikings
Depending on what the Vikings do in the draft, we could be in for a little Master vs. Apprentice action, as Tom Brady and Co. square off against Matt Cassel. Cassel was Brady’s back up from 2005 to 2007, and became the starter in 2008 when Brady’s season was ended with tears to his MCL and ACL. Cassel saw some bright and not so bright moments with the Vikings last year, but the Patriots win this game as Tom Brady has a huge game against the Vikings D that was 31st in the league for passing yards allowed per game in 2013. Don’t be surprised however if Adrian Peterson runs all over a Patriots defense that was ranked 30th for in rushing yards allowed per game in 2013.
Final Score: NE: 34 MIN: 20
W-L: 2-0
Week 3: Oakland Raiders
For a team that has struggled as of late in the draft along with the regular season, the Oakland Raiders had a pretty great off-season, bringing in names like RB Maurice Jones-Drew, DE Justin Tuck, WR James Jones and others to make improvements. The Raiders are 1-4 against New England in the regular season since the Brady-Belicheck era. The Raiders could give the Patriots trouble with Jones- Drew and Darren McFadden, but look for the Patriots to win this game with some ease.
Final Score: NE: 27 OAK: 13
W-L: 3-0
Week 4: @ Kansas City Chiefs
New England will be playing its third away game in a span of almost three weeks (22 days). The Patriots will be gassed, could have some injuries due to lack of rest time, and will still be without CB Brandon Browner, who will be serving the last game of his four game suspension. The Chiefs started 9-0 last season, and although they might not see that same level of success, they are not a team to sleep on. With an excellent defense,which was third in the league in interceptions (21), efficient QB play and RB Jamaal Charles, the Chiefs will edge this depleted Patriots team in this primetime Monday Night game match up.
Final Score: NE: 16 KC: 20
W-L: 3-1
Week 5: Cincinnati Bengals
There are a lot of things Patriots fans want to forget about when these last two teams met. Tom Brady losing the longest active streak for consecutive games with a passing TD, Patriots scoring only six points and a grueling defeat in the rain. This game will be different. The last time the New England Patriots lost two games in a row was during the 2009 NFL season. The Patriots will be out for blood at home, where they went 8-0 in 2013. New England enjoys Brandon Browner first game in the blue and red, as Browner is able to limit the Bengals tight ends with his 6’4” frame. Game stays close, but Belicheck is much more prepared for the Bengals defense and pulls out a win.
Final Score: NE: 20 CIN:13
W-L: 4-1
Week 6: @ Buffalo Bills
When these two teams faced off in the season opener in 2013, it was a game that came down to a final drive by Tom Brady in a very Tom Brady like fashion. The Bills will struggle to keep Tom Brady in check without Jairus Byrd on the field. Bills LB Brandon Spikes will do everything can to give his former team the L, but New England walks away with the victory, as Darrelle Revis and Logan Ryan limit Stevie Johnson and Roberts Woods to sub par games.
Final Score: NE: 24 BUF: 13
W-L: 5-1
Week 7: New York Jets
The Jets also made some nice off-season moves, adding Michael Vick at QB, Chris Johnson at RB, and Eric Decker at WR. The Jets will use the speed of Vick and CJ2k to the best of their abilities, but with the return of Patriots DT’s Vince Wilfork and Tom Kelly, the Patriots run D improves from its position at 30th in the league in 2013. Patriots beat a Jets team that just came off a tough game against another AFC powerhouse, the Denver Broncos.
Final Score: NE: 27 NYJ: 20
W-L: 6-1
Week 8: Chicago Bears
The last time these two teams played, the Patriots dominated in a 36-7 spanking. Don’t look for the same story in 2014. The game will be filled with a heavy run attack by New England, trying to take advantage of a Chicago defense that allowed an average of 161.4 yards per game just on the ground. New England will do what many teams struggle to do against the Bears, cover Chicago’s massive receivers. Bears WR’s Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery stand at 6’4” at 6’3”, respectively. Once again, CB’s Brandon Browner and Darrelle Revis are able to keep a lid on these two monster wide receivers. New England takes the W, thanks to running backs Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen going off.
Final Score: NE: 34 CHI: 21
W-L: 7-1
Week 9: Denver Broncos
Without a doubt, this will be the game any and all football fans will be watching, regardless of team affiliation. However the position battle to watch in this will not be at QB, WR, TE, or anywhere on defense, it should be in the Denver Broncos’ running back stables. In the last regular season match up between this two teams, Ex-Bronco (Now Miami Dolphins) RB Knowshon Moreno had 37 rushes for 224 yards and a touchdown. Without Moreno, the Broncos have young backs Ronnie Hillman and Monte Ball, both of whom had underwhelming years in 2013, and have a lot to prove in the coming year. This will be an instant classic, and a game that goes down to the wire, but the Patriots have the secondary and front seven to manage the always dominant Denver offense. Call me biased, call me blinded by my fandom, but New England always play their best football at home, and comes away with an overtime victory.
Final Score: NE: 37 DEN:34 (OT)
W-L: 8-1
*** WEEK 10 BYE******
Week 11: @ Indianapolis Colt
Lucas Oil Stadium is in for a top of the line matchup between the Patriots and the Colts. New England has won the last two match-ups since the Andrew Luck era has begun. However, this game ends differently. Andrew Luck throws and runs all over the Patriots, using his wheels to terrorize the Patriots all day long. The Patriots suffer their worst lost of the season, as Indianapolis keeps the lead throughout the whole game.
Final Score: NE: 17 IND: 30
W-L: 8-2
Week 12: Detroit Lions
Calvin Johnson very well could go down as one of the best wide receivers ever to play the game. Reggie Bush is also playing some of his best football in his expanded running back role. However, the Lions do not have what it takes to beat the elite members of the NFL. This game follows the same story. The Lions passing defense is unable to stop New England’s passing attack, as it was ranked 23rd in the league against the pass in 2013. Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski has a heck of a game, grabbing over 100 yards and a pair of TDs.
Final Score: NE: 38 DET: 23
W-L: 9-2
Week 13: @ Green Bay Packers
Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady have never before met in a game. The last time Green Bay and New England faced off, Rodgers sat out with a concussion. Look for Rodgers to restate his claim as the league’s best QB, as he shows his ability to execute the playaction to perfection with RB Eddie Lacy in the back field. The Packers defense will struggle, but GB is able to take a win, as Randall Cobb is able to go off.
Final Score: NE: 23 GB: 31
W-L: 9-3
Week 14: @ San Diego Chargers
Last off-season, many Patriots fans were left scratching their heads as to why the Patriots would let go RB Danny Woodhead at a time when the Patriots offense saw so many injuries and departures. Now, Woodhead plays for the Chargers and had himself quite a year in 2013. The 5’8” running back totaled 1,043 all purpose yards and eight touchdowns as well. Don’t look for Danny Woodhead to go off in this game, but he could have a huge role on third down situations. The Chargers and Patriots keep this game close to the last second. However New England gets the W, as Chargers QB Phillip Rivers is 0-5 against Brady in head to head match-ups. Only time Rivers did beat New England? When Brady sat out all of 2008 injured…
Final Score: NE: 34 SD: 30
W-L: 10-3
Week 15: Miami Dolphins
For Miami, the cold weather WILL bother them anyway (sorry, my girlfriend has been watching a lot of Frozen lately, so I apologize). The Fins are just 2-9 at Foxboro since the Brady era, partially to do with the cold weather Miami doesn’t see too often in South Beach. New England stays perfect at home, as they are able to keep the foot on the gas pedal and come out on top of the Dolphins.
Final Score: NE: 30 MIA: 20
W-L: 11-3
Week 16: @ New York Jets
Rex Ryan has a keen ability to beat the Patriots when they are playing at home against the Pats. Rex Ryan is 3-2 at home against the Pats since 2009. This game will be a classic, as it will be a battle of defensive chess between two defensive wizards, Ryan and Belicheck. Look for the Jets to give the Pats trouble the whole game, and take it to over time. The Jets are able to win this one with the crowd on their side.
Final Score: NE: 16 NYJ: 19 (OT)
W-L: 11-4
Week 17: Buffalo Bills
These two teams played in Week 17 of last year, and for Bills fans, it wasn’t pretty. Yeah, Buffalo rests its starters and had no real motivation to win the game, as they started QB Jeff Tuel. The Bills probably won’t be in playoff contention, so look for a similar situation in this Week 17. Patriots win big, and pad those stats in the process in a dominant victory.
Final Score: NE: 38 BUF: 16
FINAL RECORD: 12-4
Let me know how you feel, or yell at me on twitter about your opinion on this piece! @gavroydavis
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