Go For It On Fourth Fan Preview 2018: The New England Patriots

Go For It On Fourth Fan Preview 2018: The New England Patriots
By Stuart Tomlin

For my half of the Go For It On Fourth preview for the 2018 NFL season, I decided to ask fans of every team questions about how they think their team will do this season. Instead of asking just one fan per team, I decided to get as many fans as I could involved. For some teams, that was several. For some teams, that was just one fan. But we very much appreciate everyone who got involved in our Preview for the 2018 Season!

Representing the Empire, I mean, the New England Patriots:

Dave, Ontario, Patriots, @BridgecrewDave
Stephen, Dumfries
Billy, New England Patriots, North Carolina USA, @AirGordonIX
Ian, Kincardine, Fife
Chris, Newcastle, @ctdk1980
Keith: The Wirral

First off, sum up last season for us.

Dave: Last season was pretty good, made it to the Super Bowl, lost to some flukey catches but can't really complain too much. Losing Edelman was brutal but we managed to pull through.

Stephen: Last season was bitter sweet. We lost the bowl but was one of the best ever offensive performances in playoff history so it’s hard to be mad.

Ian: It was interesting, the early season defensive problems made it look like we were in for a long road ahead, only the New Orleans game in the 1st four weeks of the season gave any optimism, but by the time week 8 rolled into the bye week things were looking up and there seemed to be a steely determination to get to the post season and repeat their Super Bowl success, losing badly to the Dolphins in Miami gave cause for concern that the playoffs would be decided on the road, but luck in Pittsburgh and two routine wins to close the season and a trip to Minneapolis booked via almost routine playoff wins at home. It's very difficult to win 2 Super Bowls in a row, and the Eagles deserved their win, the Patriots defensive frailties cost them, but you can't say it was a failure, more a heartbreak to get so close and not get over the line. The Brady versus Belichick noise from ESPN was a distraction and I was disappointed at losing Jimmy Garoppolo for a 2nd round pick, but in Bill we trust.

Chris: Last season was more of the same, winning the AFC East comfortably and eventually making it to the 8th Super Bowl of the Brady/ Belichick era before falling to the Eagles and an inspired Nick Foles.

Keith: Fucking Nick Foles. Ruined the Tom versus Time documentary and no mistake.

How was your offseason?

Dave: Quiet. Lot of chatter going around about tension between Brady and Belichick and Kraft, but hats just all noise. Lost a few good players that'll hurt to lose (Butler, Lewis, Amendola), but it's next man up as always.

Stephen: Offseason wasn’t the most glamorous as we lost a lot of guys but we have signed one or two big talents.

Billy: Dramatic compared to typical Patriots off-seasons. From the Malcolm Butler Super Bowl Benching to the possibility of Gronkowski and/or Brady retiring, the team kept finding ways to stay in the news cycle all offseason long. In terms of free agency, there were more losses than additions as Butler, Dion Lewis, Nate Solder, and others moved on.

Ian: It's been the usual surprising mix of free agents and draft picks, Ja'Whaun Bentley looking like a good pick up already in preseason.

Chris: During an offseason that was turbulent to say the least the Patriots lost defensive coordinator Matt Patricia to become Lions HC and seemed set to lose OC Josh McDaniels to the Colts before a last-minute change of heart led to him staying put. With the franchise also dealing with the fallout of Malcolm Butler’s unexplained (at least publicly) benching during the Super Bowl defeat and Tom Brady’s unusually reticent approach to voluntary OTA’s. Also among those waving goodbye to Foxborough were last year’s top rusher Dion Lewis, clutch receiver Danny Amendola, O-line staple Nate Solder and the aforementioned Malcolm Butler.

Keith: So so, losing the likes of Cooks and Butler wasn’t ideal to be honest. The draft went quite well, given the usual wheeling and dealing, I think long term Sony Michel is a real game changer coming out of the backfield.

Key additions from free agency and the Draft?

Dave: I was really high on the two first round draft picks (Wynn and Michel) but they're both injured now. Every receiver we picked up in Free Agency seems to have been cut besides Patterson, and later Decker, so I'm hoping they can really contribute and fill this thin WR corps.

Stephen: The big signings are definitely rookie RB Sony Michel who had a great career at Georgia and could potentially be a stud for us. Eric Decker at WR gives us a big physical presence at WR and one of the best RedZone targets in the last 5 years. As well as that we’ve bolstered our offensive line with a couple of signings so hopefully we can be strong up front in the run game as well as a solid pass pro to give Brady the protection he needs. We’ve also brought in Danny Shelton on dl so hopefully he and a couple or rookie DBs we’ve brought in improve our defence as it struggled in the bowl, obviously losing Butler is huge but it has to be next man up as usual.

Billy: Isaiah Wynn and Sony Michel were drafted in the first round to address key losses at tackle and running back. Unfortunately, Wynn’s season is already over due to injuries and Michel should miss a few weeks. Among free agent additions, the Patriots added Adrian Clayborn to assist what has been a non-existent pass rush. Also intriguing is the addition of Cordarrelle Patterson, who can give the team a proven kick returner and may find a way to be impactful within the offense.

Ian: Danny Shelton and Cordarrelle Patterson should fit right in, Adrian Clayborn and Jeremy Hill have looked ok, Isaiah Wynn has been unfortunate to get hurt, Sony Michel and Ja'Whaun Bentley should see game time.

Chris: New England as usual stayed away from big ticket free agents but did bring run stuffing DT Danny Shelton from the Browns via trade and bucked the trend during the draft selecting RB Sony Michel with one of their first round picks, unfortunately their other frost round selection Isaiah Wynn is already lost for the season due to an Achilles injury.

Keith: Well, we’ve lost half of the draft class to season ending injuries already, so it’s been a great start. I think he’s very raw obviously but Danny Etling excites me. Give him two years to learn from TB12 and I think he’ll be ready to be the long-term replacement. Physically, he’s got the perfect attributes for a modern day QB.

What's your hopes for this coming season?

Dave: Super Bowl or bust, as always. Playoffs are basically a sure thing at this point, so gotta get that 6th.

Stephen: This year it’s always playoffs or bust as is expected every year for the patriots but considering in the last 17 years we’ve missed it less than a handful of times, I’m very confident, but as always we want to be competing in the Bowl.

Billy: It’s the Patriots so as usual it’s Super Bowl or bust. I hate to be a stuck up Patriots fan in that regard but that’s just the way it is.

Ian: Win the division and the number one seed, I can see it being tougher this year though.

Chris: The New England Patriots will enter the season in their usual position of prohibitive favourites to win the AFC East and looking to make the AFC Championship game for a frankly ridiculous 8th consecutive time. Having arguably the best coach of all time as well as possibly the best QB in history means that anything less than a Lombardi trophy at the end of the season will be regarded as a failure.

Keith: Got to be another tilt at the Super Bowl hasn’t it? It’s an expectation in Foxboro. Plus the chance to right the wrongs of February. I’d love to see us a bitter tougher on defence this year too, rather than giving up 3rd downs for days.

What's your thoughts on your starting quarterback?

Dave: Tom Brady is the GOAT. Greatest of All Time. Simple as that.

Stephen: I think Brady continues to defy the odds of career longevity with all the hard work he puts in so should have another great season, how many more is up to him.

Billy: Brady is the greatest to have ever played the game and his continued high production last season at age 40 put the team in uncharted territory. It’s easy to criticize the Garoppolo trade but how many teams have a 40 year old QB win MVP? At some point, Father Time catches up to Brady but right now it’s impossible to say when.

Ian: There's no one in the Patriots more dedicated to his craft and winning than Tom Brady, he's one of the best to ever play the game and he's still demanding the best from those around him, hopefully his body holds up over the season.

Chris: Tom Brady’s defying of Father Time will inevitably be key for the Patriots, especially with the receiving core looking particularly thin at the moment.

Keith: What more can be said? He’s untouchable. Will he stay untouchable for another year? Probably.

And your thoughts on your head coach?

Dave: Belichick is an ornery man who won't give you what you need when you need a reassuring word at a presser. But he's playing 4 dimensional chess out there whilst everyone is is playing checkers, so I'll take some stress.

Stephen: Bill is the greatest coach in the game and might not understand his choices at first but you have to trust him just like Alex Ferguson was with United.

Billy: Butler benching aside, Belichick is the best coach in the NFL and almost certainly the best in league history. His ability to find unwanted players and make them work within the Patriots system is incredible and has been a major reason for the team’s continued success. Eight Super Bowl appearances and five wins since 2001 speak for themselves. The Patriots also have an ongoing streak of seven AFC Championship Game appearances since 2011. For all of that, you have to give credit to the hoodie.

Ian: What can you say about Belichick? He's one step ahead of every other coach in the league, and rarely makes mistakes.

Chris: Although it does feel very much that the end of the era is approaching Brady and Belichick seem to have put behind (for now at least) their internal disagreements.

Keith: I love him. He’s my favourite miserable bastard. He derives no pleasure from life, only satisfaction from a job well done.

A player that will be key for you this season?

Dave: Having Edelman back is HUGE. The chemistry between him and Brady is second to none. With a receiving core of Edelman, Gronk and Hogan, we should be able to rack up some points.

Stephen: I think between Brady continuing to be at his best, Gronk staying healthy and Michel giving us a strong run game we should be ok.

Billy: Rex Burkhead. Last year, Dion Lewis was a valuable piece of this offense given his abilities as a dual threat back. With Lewis gone, it feels like Burkhead will get at least a portion of that role. The question is whether he can sustain that workload and avoid injury.

Ian: The key to success in New England this year will be Tom Brady, but that feels like a cop out answer so I'll add that whoever they can fit in Edelman's shoes the 1st 4 weeks and how he comes back from suspension could shape the season.

Chris: Linebacker Dont’a Hightower’s return from injury should help to solidify the front seven and hopes are high that DE Trey Flowers can become the different maker on the end.

Keith: Don’t’a Hightower. The success of the D this season rests on his ability to stay healthy and make plays.

And who would you happily drive to their next club?

Dave: Cyrus Jones. Jones, I get its only your second year playing, (missing last year to an ACL tear), but you can't catch punts if your life depended on it.

Stephen: If there’s anybody that shouldn’t be here then they are already gone, the Pats don’t carry dead weight.

Billy: Elandon Roberts. Linebacker is a major issue for the Patriots when Donta Hightower is hurt and the defense is often exposed by a lack of speed at the position. It’s harsh but if the defense is going to improve, Roberts can’t see much time.

Ian: The signing of Eric Decker, I hope I'm wrong but I just don't see the logic in that one.

Chris: Hopefully this is finally the year Jordan Richards is left out of the 53 man roster having struggled whenever he’s seen the field on defence, although he has been a productive player on special teams.

Keith: Josh McDaniels. I was furious when he decided to stay. It’s pretty much nailed on he’ll take over from The Hoodie when he eventually goes now.

What made you choose to support your team?

Dave: I'm an Argos (CFL) fan my whole life. Doug Flutie was my favorite player growing up. He went tot he Bills and they treated him like garbage, even after he got them 3 straight wins in relief. After that I basically picked a team that was a Bills rival. I wasn’t cheering for the Jets because ew New York sports, Miami was too far, Indy was too bleh, so New England it was, and I've never looked back.

Stephen: I chose the Patriots because watching football as a kid, my uncles tried to get me to support their teams, one being a Giants fan, the other a Jets, I was watching the Pats Giants in the last game of the regular season in 96 when the Pats won by a point and decided from then on I would support them.

Billy: My entire family is from the New England area so I grew up rooting for the Patriots, Red Sox, and Celtics. Living in North Carolina has not been the same since Super Bowl XXXVIII.

Ian: My brother in law married a girl from Rhode Island and we had her whole family over to live with us while the wedding took place, a few years later her sister got married and invited us over,returning the favour, as part of any trip to an NFL city I wanted to see Gillette stadium as it was close by, we drove up to practice and Doug Flutie was still on the roster so I hung around after the practice and got to meet him and Tom Brady, a couple of years later I was invited over to see a game, so I flew over for my 1st real NFL game, what a day! what an experience, it grew arms and legs and became an annual event at first, then it became twice a year, I know we have the games in London, but NFL Sundays in America are different gravy, whether it's Gillette or Metlife it's just the best day out.

Keith: To annoy you. Purely and simply. It’s worked out well. (Editor’s note: Keith is my older brother.)

For a first-time NFL fan, tell us some reasons why they should support your team?

Dave: They win. Kidding. If you want to see Football at the highest level, watch the Patriots.

Stephen: As a first-time fan if you supported us you’d just get called a glory hunter but we are one of the most exciting teams to watch especially when it comes to the technicality and sheer will to be the best and give 100%, then there is the fact you’re getting to watch the greatest QB of all time still compete at the highest level.

Billy: Do you like winning? That’s the main attraction. Outside of that, Rob Gronkowski is just a ton of fun to root for.

Ian: New England just keep evolving and winning, they have the best quarterback in the league and the man mountain Gronk is just awesome to watch play, it's hard to believe they were once a bad team with a joke stadium, for the past 20 odd years they've just done things right, and won, a lot.

Keith: It’s fun to be the bad guys.

Compare your team to a European football club.

Dave: I don't know European football well, a team that wins almost all the time. Man U?

Stephen: The Patriots are like Real Madrid, not only a great team to watch but behind the scenes one of the best ran teams in the world of sport.

Billy: Manchester United. This is mostly because you are either a fan of the Patriots or you hate them. There is absolutely no indifference when it comes to them.

Ian: Right now they are Real Madrid, you expect them to have great players and be in with a chance of winning it all.

Keith: Real Madrid. No matter who plays, no matter who comes and who goes, everything is about the success of the team, not the individual.

What's the best-case scenario for you this season?

Dave: Super Bowl win #6.

Stephen: Best case for us is always another bowl win.

Billy: Winning the Super Bowl is the best-case scenario as long as Brady and Belichick are in Foxboro.

Ian: Brady's 6th ring.

Chris: Best case for the Patriots this coming year is inevitably lifting the franchises sixth Super Bowl.

Keith: Lombardi number six. And against the Eagles would be pretty sweet.

And what's the worst-case scenario?

Dave: Brady gets hurt and retires.

Stephen: Worst is not making the playoffs as we have come to expect a great deal of success through all the hard work that has been put in.

Billy: A repeat of 2009 feels like the worst case. That season the team found a way to go 10-6 and win their division. However, they were not equipped for a playoff run and were crushed by the Ravens at home on Wild Card Weekend.

Ian: There's always potential for a sub .500 season if things go wrong.

Chris: While worst-case is the fissures between Belichick and Brady becoming full blown chasms and the dynasty imploding from within!

Keith: Brady goes down in week 1 and we spend the rest of the year watching Bri Hoyer clownballing his way to an 8-8 season. The Bills make the playoffs.

How many more years do Brady and Belichick have left in New England?

Dave: Brady? About 2 years. Belichick, who knows.

Stephen: I think personally Brady will retire by 44 and Bill will go on a couple more years but would be nice for them to finish together as all the success they have shared together took having each other to achieve.

Billy: Three years. Brady’s contract is up after 2019 and I’ll say he takes a one-year extension before they leave at the same time.

Ian: If they win their 6th title I think both retire at the top, if they don't, that all depends on Tom's health, there's a slight potential the Patriots reign at the top could fall off the cliff.

Keith: Two, maximum for the Goat. I think as soon as he goes, Bill will decide to go buy a fishing boat and spend his days in Massachusetts Bay.

Predict your record for this season, and how far (if at all) you will go in the postseason.

Dave: 12-4 is usually a safe bet, and Super Bowl 53 is how far I think we can go.

Stephen: I’ll say 12 wins this year and the Bowl win, we are always favorites for it each year for a reason.

Billy: I would say the Patriots go 12-4 and lose in the AFC Championship Game. The defense is still a concern and the offense may take a step back. They have proved me wrong before though.

Ian: 11-5 It's a tough schedule, they face the Texans, Packers and Vikings, the visit of the Colts for a Thursday night game has banana skin potential and there's no guarantee of sweeping your division. Heart says Super Bowl, head says Conference.

Chris: A lot more likely however, is the Patriots continuing on their merry way to another AFC championship appearance, although to me at least, this doesn’t yet have the feel of a Super Bowl winning squad. My prediction for the coming year is an 12-4 record. The AFC looks the weaker of the conferences so I wouldn’t bet against the Patriots playing in the big game in Atlanta in February.

Keith: 12-4 and the AFC representatives in the big one.

Tell us who you think will be lifting the Lombardi Trophy in Atlanta on February 3rd next year?

Dave: New England. Same as every year.

Billy: I really think the Rams are best equipped to win a Super Bowl this season. The team is loaded on both sides of the ball and Goff should only continue to improve. McVay was a tremendous hire and I look forward to watching another season of this team with him at the helm.

Ian: Rams, Vikings or Falcons. Too early to commit to a bold prediction.

Chris: The NFC looks stacked this year with Eagles/ Vikings/ Saints/ Rams/ Packers/ Falcons and others all with legitimate reasons to think they can win it all. My tentative pick for this year is the Vikings, their defence is set up to win and Cousins arrival at QB coupled with the return of Dalvin Cook should help the offence fire.

Keith: The New England Patriots of course.

Anything else you'd like to promote?

Dave: Follow me on twitter for hot takes during the season and during games that may include some foul language. Also F*ck the Jets. Always and forever.

Stephen: I’d like to promote my own football team that competes in the British division 2 NFC north the Dumfries Hunters, give us a like on Here and help us grow this great sport in the UK! https://www.facebook.com/DumfriesHunters/

Ian: The UK Patriots forum is a great place to discuss the team with fellow UK fans, they also organise road trips to Gillette. http://ukpatriots.com

Keith: Drink milk. It’s full of calcium and is good for bones and teeth.