Playing well on the road
If the New England Patriots can survive the road, they will be able to win. Looking at the road schedule, they will have to face some tough competition.
The Patriots defense will have to face Josh Allen and Deshaun Watson in the first two weeks of the season. Then, they have to face Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. Those are just in the first three weeks of the season. Mixed in with those three quarterbacks are Jared Goff and Russell Wilson later in the season.
If the Patriots can tread water and possibly steal wins in Houston and LA in the first four weeks of the season, that would put them at 2-2. From there, they could have a shot at the Super Bowl. The Patriots have the hardest strength of schedule in all of football. Those first four weeks are probably the toughest on the schedule. If they can at least keep the games competitive and win, they have a shot at the Super Bowl. It sounds cliché, but especially in this case, in order to be the best you have to beat the best.