Schedule Breakdown: A Look at the Next Four Games for the Patriots
By Joe Lewis
Emotions will be running high for both teams in this prime-time tilt. Seahawks fans and players still haven’t gotten over their crushing Super Bowl XLIX defeat at the hands of the Patriots. They will be looking to prove something in the rematch — that the loss was a fluke of bad play calling and a once-in-a-lifetime play from Malcolm Butler.
On the other side of the football, the Patriots will be looking to send a statement as well. The holdovers from the Super Bowl championship team will look to send a message of their own. Seattle didn’t lose that game. We won it. They will be motivated to win in convincing fashion, removing any doubt as to who the better team was in Arizona.
Even with a less-than-100% Russell Wilson, the Seahawks are emerging as a legitimate contender in the NFC playoff race. They are more than capable of giving New England a tough game, even on the road. Even with a strong defense, however, Seattle simply can’t account for all the weapons that Tom Brady has at his disposal — especially without Michael Bennett to put pressure on the quarterback.
Prediction: New England 31, Seattle 20