Way Too Early 2023 Season Prediction

After free agency, draft and offensive coaching changes, how much will the 2023 Patriots improve?

  • Improve by 2 wins + (i.e., 10-7 or better) - Mac & BoB will figure some sh*t out

    Votes: 50 27.2%
  • Improve by 1 win (9-8) - got better, but so did the other teams

    Votes: 59 32.1%
  • End up the same (8-9) - treading water at best

    Votes: 28 15.2%
  • Worse by 1 game (7-10) - didn't keep pace with the rest of the AFC

    Votes: 29 15.8%
  • Worse by 2 games or more (6-11 or worse) - looking forward to the 2024 draft!

    Votes: 18 9.8%

  • Total voters
    184
  • Poll closed .

lexrageorge

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Jul 31, 2007
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I know Mac didn't play against GB. But I'm asking....if 2022 Mac played all season, how much of a difference would it have made? So...would the Pats have beaten GB if 2022 Mac played instead of (in that case) Hoyer and Zappe?
Mac just wasn’t that good in the games he played in 2022. Maybe some of that was the injury, but he struggled long after it healed as well. Zappe played well against the Packers.

I don’t disagree with the larger point: better execution on offense should be enough for a couple of wins, everything else being equal.
 

BaseballJones

ivanvamp
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Oct 1, 2015
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Mac just wasn’t that good in the games he played in 2022. Maybe some of that was the injury, but he struggled long after it healed as well. Zappe played well against the Packers.

I don’t disagree with the larger point: better execution on offense should be enough for a couple of wins, everything else being equal.
Oh I'm a dope. I meant if 2021 Mac had been at the helm for the Pats in 2022. My bad - I totally miscommunicated that.
 

Mystic Merlin

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I think they could easily (likely?) be better but have the same or a worse record than last year. The schedule is looking that tough, even if you price in the high likelihood that some teams will be worse or better than projected, and that they’ll play some teams who are missing key players due to injury at any given point in the season. Not having two eminently winnable games against a Jets team without a real QB for like the 13th year running doesn’t help.

I was on the fence between 8-9 and 7-10. Definitely can’t get myself to a 10-11 win year at this point. Hope I’m wrong.
 

Rico Guapo

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Apr 24, 2009
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Prompted by @luckiestman's post on likely 2023 AFC playoff teams from another thread. I know it is way too early, but interested in the mood of SOSH in the immediate glow of post draft optimism.

EDIT: I tried to count up wins and losses a few minutes ago, and came away... not hopeful. For reference, the 2023 Patriots schedule includes:
HOME: Bills, Dolphins, Jets, Chargers, Chiefs, Colts, Commanders, Eagles, Saints (note 1 home game will be in Germany)
AWAY: Bills, Dolphins, Jets, Broncos, Cowboys, Giants, Raiders and Steelers

Anyway, do your thing.
60% of voters think this team will win 9 games or more against that schedule.

I..................wow.
The addition of a real OC and OL coach alone means the the offense will be better than last years disaster. They've also added depth at OL/WR/TE through FA and the draft (I'm excited for both Kayshon Boutte & Demario Douglas). Special teams were terrible last year and again should be improved as a result of better coaching and draft picks they've brought in. On defense they've added a stud corner in Gonzalez and a raw but explosive pass rusher in White, it will take time to get them adjusted to life in the NFL but on paper the defense is more talented than last years group. The defense should also benefit from a competent offense staying on the field and scoring points and improved field position from the kicking game.

Yes they are facing a better slate of quarterbacks and better teams but last years Patriots were so flawed that I have a hard time picturing them losing more games in 2023.

Home: Wins over Dolphins, Jets, Chargers, Colts, Commanders, and Saints. Losses to Bills, Chiefs, and Eagles. 6-3
Away: Wins over Jets, Broncos, Giants, Raiders, and Steelers. Losses to Bills, Dolphins, and Cowboys. 5-3
11-6 on the year, 3-3 in the division, in the playoffs as a WC team.
 

Arroyoyo

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Dec 13, 2021
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I think Zappe is QB1 by mid-season and we’ll all be wishing we traded Mac when he still had some real value.

I think his rookie year was the outlier and largely thanks to Josh putting him in position to make easy reads and decisions. I don’t think, in the year 2023, he’s a starting-caliber NFL quarterback, and I say that as someone that wanted the Patriots to draft him in the first round and was pumped when they did.

I expect a lot of turmoil given the schedule along with below-average quarterback play. I’m guessing 8-9 due to a late-season run that buys BB another year and gives us more hope for 2024.
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

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I know Mac didn't play against GB. But I'm asking....if 2022 Mac played all season, how much of a difference would it have made? So...would the Pats have beaten GB if 2022 Mac played instead of (in that case) Hoyer and Zappe?
It's a fair question.

But you also have to consider that we won by 3 against Mitch Trubisky, by 5 and 7 against Zach Wilson, and by 2 against Teddy Bridgewater.

We were hurt by terrible QB play/coaching but we were also the beneficiaries of a lot of terrible QB play. You can say we weren't that far away from 10-7 but we also weren't that far away from 4-13.
 

cornwalls@6

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I went with ending up about the same. I think they will be improved on offense, if only by the addition of a legit coordinator, and O-line coach. And I think they have a chance, if Gonzo and Keion contribute out of the gate, to go from being a pretty solid defense, to a borderline elite one. But the schedule, conference, and division, is a murderers row of high level QB play. Excellent defense or not, they will have to win some shootouts against those teams to improve to legit contender status. I just don't think they're built to do that with Mac. So, echoing others, better play, not much if any win total improvement. Would obviously loved to be proven wrong.
 

BaseballJones

ivanvamp
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Oct 1, 2015
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It's a fair question.

But you also have to consider that we won by 3 against Mitch Trubisky, by 5 and 7 against Zach Wilson, and by 2 against Teddy Bridgewater.

We were hurt by terrible QB play/coaching but we were also the beneficiaries of a lot of terrible QB play. You can say we weren't that far away from 10-7 but we also weren't that far away from 4-13.
Im assuming that if the Pats had 2021 Mac they don’t lose those close games that they won even with 2022 Mac. I’m wondering how many of those close losses would have been wins with 2021 Mac at the helm.
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

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Im assuming that if the Pats had 2021 Mac they don’t lose those close games that they won even with 2022 Mac. I’m wondering how many of those close losses would have been wins with 2021 Mac at the helm.
I know, I'm just saying that while we might have won more with 2021 Mac at the helm we also might have won fewer if our opponents didn't run out a ridiculously poor string of QBs for much of the season. The two things balance each other to some degree.
 

Cellar-Door

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I also would like to see the schedule before I know how tough it is....
who do we get week 18, are they a team that might not be playing for anything?
Who do we get on rest disadvantage?
do we get the Chargers on a West to East early game?
Do we get the inexperience QBs (WAS, IND) early in the year or late?
Do we get the Raiders late enough in the year that you would guess Jimmy G will be hurt and they're starting Hoyer or O'Connell?
 

ShaneTrot

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60% of voters think this team will win 9 games or more against that schedule.

I..................wow.
In the last 21 years, their lowest win total is 7 in the COVID opt-out year with shredded shoulder Cam Newton as the QB and terrible receivers. This team has a loaded front 7 on defense, a good secondary, and thumping LBs. The offense and special teams cannot be worse than last year. History tells us BB can coach, I see last year as an anomaly.
 

PRabbit

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Apr 3, 2022
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IMO the difference in coaching between Patricia and BoB on offense, and presumably improved ST play, is worth 3 wins by itself.

11-6, WC spot, lose in the divisional round.
 

ehaz

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Sep 30, 2007
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I definitely think they improved. But the 2023 opponents are no walk in the park and I could easily see them having the same record +/- 1 win despite the improvements. Winning either Buffalo game still requires a massive upset. We may not have the benefit of a Tua-less Miami this go-around. And you can't count on two gimme wins anymore with the Jets getting Aaron Rodgers. In addition to the AFC East opponents, they have home games against KC and Philly. The road opponents aren't as tough but Dallas is no walk in the park and they have not played well historically @Denver. Bills (x2), KC and Philly does not leave a ton of margin for error because there are not a ton of gimmes here.

Wins:
  • Home: Colts, Commanders, Saints
  • Road: Steelers
Losses:
  • Home: Bills, Chiefs, Eagles
  • Road: Bills
That gets you to 4-4. How many more wins can you reasonably expect between:
  • Home: Chargers, Dolphins, Jets
  • Road: Dolphins, Cowboys, Broncos, Raiders, Jets, Giants
Maybe you take Dolphins and Jets at home into the win column, but they're not lay-ups. Chargers won't be as easy as some here think since they upgraded their offensive coordinator and will probably not have their entire offensive-line on IR again. Vegas away is winnable and maybe Jakobi throws the game away again. But I don't know, a lot of these seem like coin flips at best.
 
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streeter88

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Home: Wins over Dolphins, Jets, Chargers, Colts, Commanders, and Saints. Losses to Bills, Chiefs, and Eagles. 6-3
Away: Wins over Jets, Broncos, Giants, Raiders, and Steelers. Losses to Bills, Dolphins, and Cowboys. 5-3
11-6 on the year, 3-3 in the division, in the playoffs as a WC team.
How do you think the Pats beat Aaron Rodgers twice? Or are you counting on an early injury?
 
Apr 24, 2019
1,278
Mac and the offense racked up a lot of numbers in a number of games against crappy competition in 2021. The offense struggled a bit when facing actual good competition. Even with McDaniels in his ear. I'm hoping the team improves due to OC and OL coach, too, but he needs to be leaps-and-bounds-ish better than even his rookie year. And he's likely playing opposition that is better than that. I would say I agree with a poster above who said the team could be markedly better and still have a worse record. Hope I'm wrong, but as long as we see some real improvement, that we're headed in the right direction, I'll be happy. Keep building.
 

sezwho

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Went +2, only hesitation was around schedule.

The D should be strong again, maybe stronger, and I remain a Bic Mac guy (like scratching at top 10 ceiling). With coaches to execute on both OL and OC they can occasionally win games on that side of the ball now too.
 

Cellar-Door

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How do you think the Pats beat Aaron Rodgers twice? Or are you counting on an early injury?
I would guess that part of the rationale is that he's 40, he wasn't very good last year, and for his career the Patriots are one of the teams that has handled him best. also the long history of jetsing
 

j-man

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here is why i think u lose to denver sean payton knows everything about u guys denver even in the last 7 years have been at worse 500 at home
 

brendan f

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I voted for 2+. The schedule is overrated due to injury and overall year to year team variance. An optimist might not see our division as necessarily difficult. I hate to ask but how long can we expect Tua to last? I could see the Fins taking a step back even if he stays healthy. There is also some chance Rodgers implodes in NY. The Bills are a different story. Getting one win against them will be tough (assuming they stay relatively healthy). As others have said, I'm expecting a relatively big bounce-back from the O-line, special teams, and Mac. I don't think it's likely they win more than two compared to last year but two seems like a good number.
 

GB5

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Aug 26, 2013
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A few thoughts on some topics rolling through this thread:

I think it’s an exercise in futility to look at next years schedule in the first days of May and say it’s going to be impossible or conversely say it’s going to be easy. 5 months before the season and a million things will happen between now and then.

I was at the Cincy game, it was a blowout. Cincy took their foot off the gas, the Pats hit a deflected Hail Mary and yes should have won the game, but the Bengals dragged them around the field on both sides of the ball in the first half and the Bengals kicker was doing everything short of point shaving.

I don’t think the Pats did much at all to upgrade their offevse. Giesecki to 2nd tight end seems to be their biggest upgrade. I am counting on BOB to scheme these guys open, is that fair?
Mac has to make a jump. Two years in and I really can’t remember him beating a “better” opponent and coming away from the game saying the Pats won that game because of the QB.
His best on paper win is a game he went 2/3 in.
 

FL4WL3SS

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I think Zappe is QB1 by mid-season and we’ll all be wishing we traded Mac when he still had some real value.

I think his rookie year was the outlier and largely thanks to Josh putting him in position to make easy reads and decisions. I don’t think, in the year 2023, he’s a starting-caliber NFL quarterback, and I say that as someone that wanted the Patriots to draft him in the first round and was pumped when they did.

I expect a lot of turmoil given the schedule along with below-average quarterback play. I’m guessing 8-9 due to a late-season run that buys BB another year and gives us more hope for 2024.
I'd like to see this poll: chances Mac is beat out in camp or replaced by Zappe at some point during the season. Given that Bill has admitted there is competition in camp (and recognizing that it's probably a motivation tactic), I'd say roughly 20-30% chance.

I do think Mac will be on a much shorter leash this year.
 

Toe Nash

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In the last 21 years, their lowest win total is 7 in the COVID opt-out year with shredded shoulder Cam Newton as the QB and terrible receivers. This team has a loaded front 7 on defense, a good secondary, and thumping LBs. The offense and special teams cannot be worse than last year. History tells us BB can coach, I see last year as an anomaly.
In the last 21 years, they had the GOAT at the most important position in sports for 17 of those years, and a really good team in 2008 when he was hurt.

Revisiting now that the schedule is out:
GOOD:
  • @ Miami at the end of October is good since the weather should be reasonable.
  • The Germany game is annoying but they have the bye after and Washington at home the week before so the travel and planning shouldn't affect them too much.
  • The Chargers will be playing an early game for them after a somewhat short week (SNF game vs. Baltimore)
NEUTRAL:
  • Leading off the season with Philly could be good or bad or in between. Maybe they will be rusty and not ready for some surprises. Or maybe the other way around.
  • I don't think we're expecting any QB play above or below our initial expectation based on when we meet them.
BAD:
  • Week 18 has a good shot to matter for both teams
  • I hate going to Pittsburgh on a short week, would rather play that game any other week, and they are at home vs. ARI the week before
  • Monday night vs. KC, Sunday night short week @ Denver, and Sunday @ BUF is a really bad stretch. Even if Denver isn't good that's a tough game.
I'll keep 6-8 wins, but I think the schedule order is neutral to bad news.
 

j-man

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In the last 21 years, they had the GOAT at the most important position in sports for 17 of those years, and a really good team in 2008 when he was hurt.

Revisiting now that the schedule is out:
GOOD:
  • @ Miami at the end of October is good since the weather should be reasonable.
  • The Germany game is annoying but they have the bye after and Washington at home the week before so the travel and planning shouldn't affect them too much.
  • The Chargers will be playing an early game for them after a somewhat short week (SNF game vs. Baltimore)
NEUTRAL:
  • Leading off the season with Philly could be good or bad or in between. Maybe they will be rusty and not ready for some surprises. Or maybe the other way around.
  • I don't think we're expecting any QB play above or below our initial expectation based on when we meet them.
BAD:
  • Week 18 has a good shot to matter for both teams
  • I hate going to Pittsburgh on a short week, would rather play that game any other week, and they are at home vs. ARI the week before
  • Monday night vs. KC, Sunday night short week @ Denver, and Sunday @ BUF is a really bad stretch. Even if Denver isn't good that's a tough game.
I'll keep 6-8 wins, but I think the schedule order is neutral to bad news.
yes for u to make the playoffs u have to start at worse 8-5 because u are at 2-2 best case over the last 4
 

Salva135

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Oct 19, 2008
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In the last 21 years, they had the GOAT at the most important position in sports for 17 of those years, and a really good team in 2008 when he was hurt.

Revisiting now that the schedule is out:
GOOD:
  • @ Miami at the end of October is good since the weather should be reasonable.
  • The Germany game is annoying but they have the bye after and Washington at home the week before so the travel and planning shouldn't affect them too much.
  • The Chargers will be playing an early game for them after a somewhat short week (SNF game vs. Baltimore)
NEUTRAL:
  • Leading off the season with Philly could be good or bad or in between. Maybe they will be rusty and not ready for some surprises. Or maybe the other way around.
  • I don't think we're expecting any QB play above or below our initial expectation based on when we meet them.
BAD:
  • Week 18 has a good shot to matter for both teams
  • I hate going to Pittsburgh on a short week, would rather play that game any other week, and they are at home vs. ARI the week before
  • Monday night vs. KC, Sunday night short week @ Denver, and Sunday @ BUF is a really bad stretch. Even if Denver isn't good that's a tough game.
I'll keep 6-8 wins, but I think the schedule order is neutral to bad news.

Fine-tuning predictions with the schedule works when you have Brady or a known entity. This team can get destroyed at home or away, anywhere, or any time until they prove they can score points.

Just for the record, 6-8 wins is absolute shit and means we have no QB and Kraft needs to talk to BB about where this is going in the way a teenage girlfriend probably but maybe but probably wants to break up with you, or at least wish you the best and still likes you.

You cannot defend a 6-8 win season in year 3 of Mac. That's likely 4th place in the division.
 
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Bigdogx

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Jul 21, 2020
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This is about as charitable (7-10) as i can be with how this team looks on paper this season, i could easily see this team getting only a handful and under of wins this season...

Perosnally i think it is going to be a long tiring season and will be Bills last as Patriots head coach, just what i feel right now.

Week Date Opponent Kickoff time TV channel
1 (LOSS) Sept. 10 vs. Eagles 4:25 p.m. ET CBS
2 (LOSS) Sept. 17 vs. Dolphins (SNF) 8:20 p.m. ET NBC
3 (LOSS) Sept. 24 at Jets 1 p.m. ET CBS
4 (LOSS) Oct. 1 at Cowboys 4:25 p.m. ET Fox
5 (WIN) Oct. 8 vs. Saints 1 p.m. ET CBS
6 (WIN) Oct. 15 at Raiders 4:05 p.m. ET CBS
7 (LOSS) Oct. 22 vs. Bills 1 p.m. ET CBS
8 (LOSS) Oct. 29 at Dolphins 1 p.m. ET CBS
9 (WIN) Nov. 5 vs. Commanders 1 p.m. ET Fox
10 (WIN) Nov. 12 Colts (Frankfurt) 9:30 a.m. ET NFL Network
11 Nov. 19 BYE
12 (WIN) Nov. 26 at Giants 1 p.m. ET Fox
13 (LOSS) Dec. 3 vs. Chargers 1 p.m. ET CBS
14 (LOSS) Dec. 7 at Steelers (TNF) 8:15 p.m. ET Amazon Prime
15 (LOSS) Dec. 18 vs. Chiefs (MNF) 8:15 p.m. ET ESPN
16 (WIN) Dec. 24 at Broncos 8:15 p.m. ET NFL Network
17 (LOSS) Dec. 31 at Bills 1 p.m. ET CBS
18 (WIN) Jets resting team for playoffs Jan. 6/7 vs. Jets TBD TBD
 

Salva135

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Oct 19, 2008
1,568
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0-4 is pitchfork time, but man, I don't know where the wins are going to come from. And those beatings will be on national TV. As far as I'm concerned, I'll be happy if we finish this season with clarity on the QB position and an idea of where BB stands with the team.

This franchise is in serious need of a reboot (we can't bring Brady back every game to wave to the fans), and I'm ready for whatever the future brings as long as this franchise doesn't drag its feet. We gotta put something good up on that new 10,000 sq ft screen.
 
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Justthetippett

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Aug 9, 2015
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I'm very optimistic about the season. I see 4 wins in their first 6 games, some highs and lows and 10-11 wins overall. They'll get back to being a disciplined team in all three phases. Limit their untimely mistakes, and take advantage of others'. This team will look more like 2021 than last year's.
 

streeter88

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I don’t know how one can see four wins out of that first six games. But at the same time, I don’t see a consolation win in the last game of the season being the only division win of the season.

I think like many of us, I am unsure what to believe simply because this team is not going to be built on a foundation of continuing previous success, like the Brady led teams were. If we do have a winning season, it’ll be because the new coaching staff managed to gel the team (especially looking at you, offense) into 3 well performing units playing the brand of complementary football we used to expect but that has been conspicuously absent the past couple of years.
 

Eck'sSneakyCheese

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I’m talking myself into this year. I honestly believe we start 1-0 and make the Eagles look awful. Mostly because no one would know what the hell to think at that point.
I consider last year to be an anomaly. Bill made a poor staffing decision and he was given the opportunity to see it through. A Lot is riding on the defense being consistent. The additions in the off-season tell me they’re looking to shore that up.
Color me optimistic for once. I see 4-0 to start the season (with the new preseason, reg season weeks 1-5, teams are still figuring things out) then losses to both the Saints and Raiders to confuse things enough to make the week 7 Bills game an early divisional lead face off.
Week 1: Hurts plays awful, SB hangover
Week 2: Tua isn’t that good
Week 3: Early year Arod has been putrid in recent years
Week 4: Almost won two years ago with a lesser team
Week 5: Saints always give them trouble
Week 6: McD and Jimmy play their Super Bowl
Week 7: We find out who they really are
 

rodderick

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I don't know, I think I'm starting to figure out the main difference between my view of the team (believe they'll win between 7 and 9 games) and the more optimistic folks comes down to their valuation of Bill O'Brien. Now, I think there's a huge improvement between having a competent OC and their 2022 coaching situation on that side of the ball, but I see a lot of people painting BOB as this great offensive mind and I kinda don't really see it? Brady aside his record isn't all that impressive. The Texans under Bill O'Brien ranked 18th in offensive EPA/Play and 16th in dropback EPA/Play and taking into account solely the Deshaun Watson era they ranked 14th and 13th respectively. Seems just... fine? Don't think he did an amazing job at Alabama either. For some reason a huge portion of the fanbase is expecting this under center, TE and play action heavy attack when he's been much more of a spread them out, 5 wide, quick game running through the middle of the field coach of late. Maybe Mac succeeds in that offense with added responsibilities and more demand of his processing, but it won't be in the same way he succeeded in 2021 or in the offense a lot of fans were begging the Patriots to return to last year (the one Zappe played well in). I think there's enough uncertainty for me not to be comfortable projecting this huge jump in production.
 

Bowser

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Sep 27, 2019
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All will come down to who Mac Jones really is. Is he the top 12-15 QB we saw in his rookie year? If so, we might be looking at 10 wins. But if he's the dude the league exposed last year, a guy with poor footwork, who didn't see the field well, was turnover prone when asked to throw deep, and a bit of a crybaby, too, then I'm less sanguine. (Yes, his supporting cast was, on the whole, below average.) I suspect he's closer to the former, but my fear is that he, nonetheless, is still not a QB who can take us deep into the playoffs. He's just too limited.
 

Over Guapo Grande

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I have a hard time seeing how A-Rod makes the Jesters such a powerhouse. I mean, the Pats almost beat him with Zappe as QB, and Patridge calling the offense.
 

Toe Nash

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I have a hard time seeing how A-Rod makes the Jesters such a powerhouse. I mean, the Pats almost beat him with Zappe as QB, and Patridge calling the offense.
Well, he's not on GB anymore. The Jets would have beaten the Patriots twice if they had just competent QB play. They were good last year outside of that position. In the first game Wilson threw 3 INTs and in the second he threw for 77 yards.

I don't know how good Rodgers is now but I bet he's going to be significantly better than Wilson and their defense was 5th in DVOA and is full of studs.
 

Toe Nash

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I love how that is taken as a given. How about if the Pats had a competent OC they would have blown the doors off of the Jets twice? This game is fun.
Look, I was just responding to your question why the Jets should be much better. They had a solid team outside of terrible QB play and Rodgers should be a huge improvement. The Pats' performance against GB last year is irrelevant.
 

rodderick

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I love how that is taken as a given. How about if the Pats had a competent OC they would have blown the doors off of the Jets twice? This game is fun.
Are you suggesting going from a horrific OC to a very good OC and going from a horrific QB to a very good QB impact a team similarly? The way New England has talked about Bill O'Brien, I would have asked Kraft for Bill Belichick money if I were in his shoes.
 

Bigdogx

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Jul 21, 2020
145
This is about as charitable (7-10) as i can be with how this team looks on paper this season, i could easily see this team getting only a handful and under of wins this season...

Perosnally i think it is going to be a long tiring season and will be Bills last as Patriots head coach, just what i feel right now.
I was being far to gracious with 7 wins but did have that feeling that a complete collapse was possible.

I think my second line is spot on track for happening, clearly this is looking like the end of his coaching tenure here.
 

tims4wins

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And to think, this was before the Aaron Rodgers injury. I bet if the Jets never traded for him our projections would have been even more optimistic.

Not sure how we'll score points.
Possibly the most accurate post of the thread
 

8slim

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Possibly the most accurate post of the thread
And I was actually optimistic that BoB would get Mac to play better and our O would be a lot more functional.

But I was VERY down on our OL, receivers and RB depth.

I went with 8 wins because I never, ever thought a BB-coached Pats team would be this bad. I was sure he could at least MacGyver us to always being .500-ish. This is why I've reluctantly had to hop off my 22 year journey on the "In Bill We Trust" bandwagon. I don't think he's washed up, or the game has passed him by, but whatever he's been doing sure as hell ain't working. That's pretty indisputable.
 

Lose Remerswaal

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Prompted by @luckiestman's post on likely 2023 AFC playoff teams from another thread. I know it is way too early, but interested in the mood of SOSH in the immediate glow of post draft optimism.

EDIT: I tried to count up wins and losses a few minutes ago, and came away... not hopeful. For reference, the 2023 Patriots schedule includes:
HOME: Bills, Dolphins, Jets, Chargers, Chiefs, Colts, Commanders, Eagles, Saints (note 1 home game will be in Germany)
AWAY: Bills, Dolphins, Jets, Broncos, Cowboys, Giants, Raiders and Steelers

Anyway, do your thing.
Man. At least 90% of us thought this team would do better than they actually did.
 

Arroyoyo

New Member
Dec 13, 2021
805
I think Zappe is QB1 by mid-season and we’ll all be wishing we traded Mac when he still had some real value.

I think his rookie year was the outlier and largely thanks to Josh putting him in position to make easy reads and decisions. I don’t think, in the year 2023, he’s a starting-caliber NFL quarterback, and I say that as someone that wanted the Patriots to draft him in the first round and was pumped when they did.

I expect a lot of turmoil given the schedule along with below-average quarterback play. I’m guessing 8-9 due to a late-season run that buys BB another year and gives us more hope for 2024.
Outside of my wild optimism predicting 8-9 buying BB another year, I wasn’t too far off on how the Mac situation played out.