With just over a month to go until the regular season kicks off, analysts are hard at work publishing their predictions for the New England Patriots final 53-man roster in advance. To add to the anticipation, we thought it would be good to talk about the team’s 2018 schedule. Our own David Latham took an exploratory dive into each of the Patriots games this year, but this one will take a deeper look at the Patriots four most difficult games this year.
New England Patriots Four Most Difficult Games of the 2018 Season
According to CBS Sports, the Patriots strength of schedule is actually leaning towards the easier side of the scale. In addition to the usual AFC East matchups against the Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, and New York Jets, the team’s interconference matchups will pit them against the AFC South and the NFC North (with games against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs mixed in as well).
Given the continued struggles of New England’s AFC East rivals, it’s fair to say that the Patriots will likely sweep at least two of their rivals (my money’s on the Bills and the Jets), with the Dolphins squeaking out one win during their Week 14 home game. Picture this: The score is tied, the clock is ticking, and who else but Danny Amendola reels in the same kind of game-saving touchdown he was known for in New England. Did I open a wound there? Can you feel the betrayal?
Outside of the division, let’s take a look at the four hardest upcoming games for the New England Patriots.
1. Jacksonville Jaguars
This matchup seems to be making everyone’s list, and for good reason. The Jacksonville Jaguars very nearly won the AFC Championship last year. Had it not been for “Playoff” Amendola, Blake Bortles probably would have squeaked his way into Super Bowl LII.
WHAT A CATCH BY @DannyAmendola!!
It's a @Patriots TOUCHDOWN!#JAXvsNE #NFLPlayoffs https://t.co/ByRD4pwMBa
— NFL (@NFL) January 21, 2018
While many appear to be basing the Jaguars future success solely on Bortles’ performance, you should make no mistake: This team is set up for success even if Bortles can’t throw the ball. Leonard Fournette will be making his sophomore debut, looking to pile on yards and touchdowns to his already stellar rookie stat line. Their wide receiver group is stacked, and the offseason addition of tight end Austin Sefarian-Jenkins simply expands on the team’s offensive talent.
Oh, and the Jacksonville defense is nothing to mess around with either. They may be a loud-mouthed group of guys, but they’ve earned their right to boast. Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye are arguably one of the best tandem cornerback pairs in the league and the Patriots glaring weakness at the wide receiver position. Hogan is good, but the team won’t have Julian Edelman, Brandin Cooks, Malcolm Mitchell, or Amendola. There is still hope for the Patriots receiving squad – and thankfully they still have Rob Gronkowski – but it’s a rag-tag group of guys and coming out of Jacksonville on top will be a tall order.
On the other hand, remember when the Super Bowl LI rematch was supposed to be the Atlanta Falcons revenge game? Who knows, maybe we’ll see a similar collapse during this rematch.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers
Going to Heinz Field always seems to be a back-and-forth scrap between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Patriots. New England has a good record against Pittsburgh but were it not for an admittedly head-scratching call last year, the Patriots would have lost as well. If that had happened, perhaps the Steelers energy would have been renewed and they could have defeated the Jaguars in the postseason. The world may never know.
Pittsburgh’s offseason transactions haven’t exactly made waves. In fact, the team’s under-25 talent has received a bottom half ranking. On the other hand, the offense will see the return of Antonio Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Le’Veon Bell (even if he’s making a reluctant return under the franchise tag).
There isn’t much about the Steelers that seems super threatening, or at least nothing the Patriots can’t handle. But for whatever reason, showdowns between the two teams always seem to go down to the very last second. Hey, at least it’s good football.
3. Green Bay Packers
This is likely the last matchup we’ll see between Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. Don’t think this game will settle the GOAT debate (it’s Brady, bar none) if anything it’ll just add fuel to either camp’s fire. No matter what, both teams will come ready to play their hardest – we’d expect no less from two of the most winningest teams in football history.
This game will be a shootout, plain and simple. Two of the best passers against two questionable pass defenses. Replace the quarterbacks and suddenly this game is just another regular football game, one that probably wouldn’t even make primetime. The wow-factor here is pitting two future Hall of Fame quarterbacks against each other.
What will this game come down to? Part of it will be coaching, and I’d give that edge to New England. Part of it will be passing yards, and thanks to the Green Bay Packers losing Jordy Nelson in free agency – even with an iffy receiving corps – I’m still inclined to give the edge to New England. Realistically, this game is a battle of wills. In what could very likely be Brady’s last season, who wants it more?
Well, who do you think?
4. Minnesota Vikings
The New England Patriots probably don’t have the number one offense anymore. Tom Brady will still rack up the yardage, but the pieces just aren’t there anymore. Come December, he’ll be defending Gillette Stadium from what could possibly be the NFL’s number one defense: The Minnesota Vikings.
.@STEFONDIGGS FOR THE WIN!!!!!!!!! #SKOL #NOvsMIN #NFLPlayoffs https://t.co/UAoNJ2NJ97
— NFL (@NFL) January 15, 2018
This is a scary game. While Brady’s history against top-rated defenses is great, I don’t know that the Patriots defense can withstand the Vikings revitalized offense. Adam Thielen will be reeling in passes from Kirk “You Like That” Cousins, the team’s new quarterback. Stefon Diggs, the man who killed the New Orleans Saints last year, is returning on a loaded new deal. Dalvin Cook will return from a nasty ACL tear, possibly usurping Latavius Murray as the starter. Kyle Rudolph, one of the league’s best tight ends, will have to be contained as well.
As for the Vikings defense? Brady’s going to have to keep an eye on Everson Griffen, who led the Vikings in sacks last year with 13. Anthony Barr, the man who knocked Rodgers out of the season last year, is another daunting threat. On top of these guys, Brady’s passing abilities will be tested by safeties Harrison Smith and Andrew Sendejo, who combined for a total of seven interceptions last year. Let’s not forget to mention Xavier Rhodes, the self-proclaimed “best cornerback in the NFL.”
On the upside, the Patriots have the home field advantage – no “Skol!” chants here. They also have Brady and Belichick, who won’t go down without a fight. Still, make no mistake: This game will likely prove to be New England’s most difficult matchup of the year. In the same vein, it will also likely be one of the best football games of the year in general and is very likely a Super Bowl LIII preview.
Author’s note: This is also the first NFL game (and first Patriots game) I’ll be attending. I picked a doozy, huh?
Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images
