It’s been a whirlwind offseason for the New England Patriots, and things are certainly going to look different at Gillette Stadium next season. Even still, New England is extremely talented on both sides of the football, and led by Bill Belichick, anything can happen.
With arguably the hardest schedule in all of football and a new offense, it seems crazy to suggest that the Patriots could even have a shot at winning the Super Bowl. The AFC East is getting better, and there will certainly be competition this year. Getting back to the big game would certainly be an uphill battle for the Patriots. Still, I take a look at three reasons why New England could make it back to the Super Bowl in 2020.
Developing a strong running game
The Patriots could win the Super Bowl if they develop a strong running game. With Tom Brady at the helm, having a strong running game was a bonus and not a must. However, the Patriots could have a shot at winning the Super Bowl if they establish a better ground game.
The talent is certainly there. For instance, Sony Michel is coming off a season in which he showed flashes that he could be a top feature back. James White is a valuable pass-catcher within the offense in addition to being a strong running back. Brandon Bolden is a back that can be counted on for short-yard gains and red-zone trips. New England needs to find a rhythm within the running game.
Last season, the Patriots ranked 18th in the entire National Football League in rushing. Averaging 3.8 yards per carry, they recorded 106.4 yards per game. The leading rusher was Michel with 912 yards on the year. Rex Burkhead had the second-most yards on the team with 263. The Patriots have many running backs that can serve them well in various roles. If New England utilizes each and every one of them, they could see their way to a Super Bowl. This is something they haven’t had to do in quite some time, and it would be a certainly interesting to see the adjustments that would have to be made offensively.