The Patriots pulled off a shocking upset in Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals winning 16-10. After a disappointing 4-13 season, the Patriots were only expected to be worse after losing Head Coach Bill Belichick and star defensive end Matthew Judon. According to ESPN, the Patriots were projected to be the 30th-best (of 32) teams in the NFL.
First-year head coach and former patriot linebacker Jerod Mayo instilled a great game plan helping the Patriots start the year off 1-0. While the Patriots were heavy underdogs in most people’s eyes, they played with grit and weren’t surprised when they went to Cincinnati and pulled off the win. Starting Quarterback Jacoby Brissett said “I feel very confident” when referring to the Patriots roster and their potential this season.
The Patriots host the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, September 15th for their home opener and hope to continue their momentum into the second game of the season. Despite the week one win, and home-field advantage, the Patriots still see themselves as underdogs heading into this matchup.
As a diehard Patriot fan, I ride with the underdogs for several reasons. The Patriots have more to prove than any other team, and playing in front of their home fans will only add to the fire. On the other hand, the Seahawks come into this game with less to prove and will likely be tired after a 5-hour plane ride.
If the Patriots end up starting the year 2-0, don’t be surprised if they continue their success throughout the season and even make the playoffs. And to any Patriot haters, don’t change your views once the Patriots stack a few wins together.
While the Patriots still certainly have a lot to improve on, their new coaching staff seems to be very promising for the future. As Tom Brady continues his football career as a broadcaster on Fox Sports, the Patriots will continue theirs. And yes, the Patriots can still be good without Tom Brady.
So what do you say, are the Patriots back?
