The New England Patriots are staring down the possibility of failing to win the AFC East and missing the post-season for the first time since 2008.
Future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady moved on from the Patriots in the off-season after 20 years with the franchise. Bill Belichick opted not to replace him in the 2020 Draft, but fortunately 2015 MVP Cam Newton fell into his lap on a low-cost deal following his release by the Carolina Panthers.
New England’s opening three games were encouraging, defeating the Miami Dolphins and Oakland Raiders, while only losing on the goal line against the Seattle Seahawks on the road. However, back-to-back defeats at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs and the Denver Broncos have sent Belichick’s men off course in their bid to continue their success in the AFC East.
It’s never a good idea to count out the Patriots – that’s when they are at their most dangerous. On the other hand, in the past Brady has provided a security blanket. Without the presence of the GOAT, Newton along with Brian Hoyer and Jarrett Stidham in relief against the Chiefs have not provided the same standard of play at the quarterback position.
Therefore there could be value to be had in backing the Patriots to miss the post-season in the NFL betting odds. There are lots of ways to punt against New England and monitoring their opponents’ odds every week would be a good idea as their issues may only get worse throughout the 2020 NFL campaign. The Patriots have a dearth of talent on their offence, and although their defence has quality – it cannot be relied upon to pick up the strain in every game.
Belichick has had major problems in the draft acquiring talent on the offensive side of the ball. Sony Michel was an important part of their run to the Super Bowl in the 2018 season, but he has flattered to deceive since then, failing to justify the use of a first-round pick in the 2018 Draft. Isaiah Wynn was selected before Michel at the 23rd spot as an offensive tackle. However, he has had form and injury problems on the field, and the former Georgia Bulldog faced a challenge to earn a second contract.
N’Keal Harry has followed the trend, suffering an injury that limited him during his newcomer term. He failed to build a rapport with Brady before he left, and the pattern has repeated itself with Newton at quarterback. The 22-year-old has struggled to get open and create yards after the catch and is not the player Belichick believed he was acquiring with the 32nd pick in the 2019 Draft.
It’s no surprise that Newton has not been able to connect with his receivers downfield. The 31-year-old has pointed the finger at himself for the failings of the offence. He has thrown more interceptions than passing touchdowns after four games. And although Newton has been excellent running the ball, the Patriots are not going to be able to win consistently in that manner in the modern-day NFL. His skill set remains potent, but without the talent around him – as Brady discovered – it’s very hard to put points on the board.
Unless they can get their passing game in sync, it could be a long road ahead for New England, and one that could potentially lead to failure for the first time in a long while.
Flip the page for Cam speaking about the team’s struggles.