New England Patriots 2024 Season Preview
By: Michael Higgins
(Image courtesy of Eric Canha/USA Today Sports)
The New England Patriots are the team that underwent the most changes during the offseason. They have replaced the great Bill Belichick with former Patriots’ linebacker, Jerrod Mayo, as their new head coach. They also added players such as DT Armon Watts, OT Chukwuma Okorafor, RB Antonio Gibson, LB Sione Takitaki, and WR KJ Osborn. They did not lose much from last season as a team with few key contributors. New England also could have changed the entire trajectory of the franchise in the draft after they took UNC QB Drake Maye in the 1st round. To go with him, they added players at skill positions such as wide receivers Javon Baker and Ja’Lynn Polk. While it will take time to see exactly how well they did in the draft, based on my analysis and player grades going into the draft, they did quite well with what they had.
The Patriots had about 20 years where they had the easiest division in football, which has been completely reversed, as they are the clear bottom feeders in a tough AFC East.
They open the season on the road, taking on the Bengals. This is followed by a home opener against the Seattle Seahawks before a two-week road trip that includes a Thursday night matchup against the Jets and then against the 49ers in Week 4 to wrap up September. In this first month, I have the Patriots at 0-4. While the Patriots will be underdogs in just about every game, of course they can steal a few games here and there.
The Patriots open October with home games against the Dolphins and the Texans, before traveling to London to take on the Jaguars, and back to Foxborough to play the Jets. This is another tough stretch that includes rigorous travel without a bye week or extra rest. However, the games in London often produce strange results. I have them winning 1 game in October.
The team then travels to Tennessee, Chicago, hosts the Rams, and then back on the road to Miami. Against a few retooling or rebuilding teams, I have the Patriots, once again, winning 1 game in November.
The Patriots open December with a home game against the Colts, followed by a Week 14 bye week, back-to-back road dates against the Cardinals and Bills, before closing the season at home against the Chargers and Bills. I have them winning 1 more game to finish the season
I have the Patriots winning 3 games in the 2024. They have a new coach, an incomplete roster, a tough division, and some of their best players are replacement level at best. The NFL season is long and unpredictable, many injuries can happen to opponents, and other unforeseen circumstances could take place. However, as things stand, they are not a competitive football team.
2023 Record: 4-13
2024 Prediction: 3-14
