New England Patriots: Closing The Book On Preseason Play

Sep 3, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots fans hold up a sign in support of quarterback Tom Brady during the first quarter against the New York Giants at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports

On To Pittsburgh

And with that, we are on to the regular season.

Tom Brady will officially be under center, and all things considered, he will have a damn healthy team to work with. Defending a championship is one of the hardest things to do in professional sports, particularly the NFL. But if there is one team that can do it, it is a group quarterbacked by the GOAT, and coached by the GOAT.

They did lose some key players from last year’s run (Vereen, Revis, Browner, Wilfork), but they also got some new playmakers to help replace them (Scott Chandler, Malcom Brown, Jabaal Sheard, Jerod Mayo). This defense will boast one of the top front sevens in the entire league this year, and assuming the offensive line can hold, this offense will be elite once again. When  you put those things together, and add in the fact that there really is no one in the AFC that is particularly scary, I think the Pats will be back in the Super Bowl once again (barring any big injuries).

We are also forgetting the biggest factor in all of this: deflate-gate.

After winning his fourth Super Bowl after years of heartbreak, you might think Tom Brady might get a little relaxed in his quest to go back-to-back. Obviously the most fiery competitor in NFL history would still want to win more than anybody, but perhaps that fire would burn a little dimmer after his 2014 triumph. Yet somehow, the NFL managed to motive 12 more than he has ever been motivated in his career. Assaulting his character for 7 months over nothing will have Brady so pissed off, I am honestly scared for opposing defense. Remember what Brady did back in 2007 after spygate? Well, this time it’s personal, and he is going to tear through the NFL.

Get ready. We’re on to Pittsburgh.