Patriots 2019 Season Preview

By: William Ferrán

GAINSVILLE VA - Welcome to the 100th season of the NFL. A lot has changed since last February. Veteran players have moved to new teams, new head coaches are looking to make their mark, a whole new draft class has been selected, and noteworthy retirements have taken place. While there are many new things to celebrate and be hopeful for in the dawn of this new season, are you seriously thinking there will be another AFC team at Super Bowl 54? Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are entering their 20th season together hungry as ever in the hunt for a record 7th Lombardi Trophy.

Even as the defending Super Bowl Champions, the New England Patriots enter the 2019 season considered underdogs in the AFC. Throughout the offseason, teams like the Los Angeles Chargers, the Kansas City Chiefs, and even the highly improved Cleveland Browns, have been selected by many sports analyst to represent the AFC at the Super Bowl. And sure, the 2019 Patriots don’t look anything like the 2018 Super Bowl winning Patriots. But that’s the beauty of it! Multiple times we have seen Brady and Belichick raise the game of a rotating cast of players year in and out. How do they do this you ask?

Players understand the great opportunity they have every time they put on that Patriots uniform. They not only have a chance to have a winning season; they have a chance to cement their legacy and be remembered forever as a Super Bowl Champion. Steep mountain to climb for sure, and God bless them for their dedication to the game. But, when you have of the greatest football minds in Belichick, and one of the best quarterbacks in the history of the game who at the ripe age of 42 still loves the grind, the competition, the dedication, you can’t help but to be inspired and give your all.

We shall see the type of offense the Patriots will put together on the field. We know this offense won’t include Rob Gronkowski, (retired), and first round draft pick from Arizona N’Keal Harry, (placed on IR). However, a healthy Super Bowl 53 MVP Julian Edelman, (WR), a returning and refocused Josh Gordon, (WR), and what many considered past his prime Demaryius Thomas, (WR) look forward to make damage through the air. Second year running back Sony Michel and the ever versatile James White, (RB), will also look to take the reins in the ground game.

But the defense… oh the defense!!! Anchored by Dont’a Hightower, (LB), Devin McCourty, (S), Stephon Gilmore, (RCB), and Kyle Van Noy, (LB), and the additions of Michael Bennett, (RDE), and third round pick from Michigan Chase Winovich, (LDE), this defensive group looks to be one of the best Patriot defenses ever put together.

The Patriots will raise their sixth Super Bowl banner and open their 2019 season at home against familiar foes, the Pittsburgh Steelers, on Sunday September 8, 2019, 8:20 PM EDT.  

Bold Prediction: 13-3