The New England Patriots don’t even stand a chance in their division, according to Peter King’s power rankings for 2020.
Tom Brady’s departure plays an obvious role in the possibility of New England digressing — along with key losses in Jamie Collins, Kyle Van Noy and others. The Patriots still have Bill Belichick and most of the coaching staff in tact — along with veterans like Matthew Slater and Devin McCourty to keep the ship afloat.
Jarrett Stidham living up to the expectations is the main point of interest, and it’ll be very difficult to replicate half of what Brady brought to the team. There are question marks about the 2020 Patriots, but having Belichick should at least give them the benefit of the doubt.
Here’s what King had to say after ranking the Patriots at No. 21 — behind the Buffalo Bills (13) and Miami Dolphins (19).
This year reminds me of Belichick’s first year or two in New England, when he and Scott Pioli got the cap right by making do with lesser players and the highest-paid player in football, Drew Bledsoe. By 2002, it was Brady’s team, and he flourished. Now, after jettisoning Brady, Rob Gronkowski, center Ted Karras, kicker Stephen Gostkowski and keystone linebackers Kyle Van Noy, Elandon Roberts and Jamie Collins, Belichick and Nick Caserio can clean out the cap and rebuild.
The reviews on the 133rd pick in the 2019 draft, Jarrett Stidham, are good, but the shadow of the 199th pick in 2000 will always be a long one for anyone who plays quarterback in New England. There is no book on Stidham, a tough kid who will not be afraid of the hot seat, but his goal is to keep New England in games and leave the Patriots with a decision to make on a quarterback in the 2021 draft. Whatever happens, America will be watching: Four of their final nine games will be in prime time. I think this season breaks the Patriots’ 11-year stranglehold on the AFC East, but I’m pretty sure everyone in that building wants to rub our faces in such predictions, and that’s a great motivator.
The Patriots have absolutely dominated their division for the past two decades and have lived off bulletin board material. Although the unknowns exponentially increased this season — they still have Belichick.
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