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New England Patriots: 2017 team being compared to 2007 squad

By Nick Ziegler

Apr 3, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) and quarterback Tom Brady hold Super Bowl trophies prior to the Opening Day game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 3, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) and quarterback Tom Brady hold Super Bowl trophies prior to the Opening Day game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New England Patriots have some drawn some comparisons to the 2007 team that went 16-0. However, one former player doesn’t believe it is as talented.

Coming into the 2017 season, the New England Patriots are the favorites to win the Super Bowl yet again. After pulling off a great comeback in Super Bowl 51 against the Atlanta Falcons, the Patriots are arguably an even better team coming into 2017.

This offseason, the Patriots were able to most notably sign cornerback Stephon Gilmore and trade for wide receiver Brandin Cooks. Both of these players are among the best at their respective positions and should help New England attempt to repeat in 2017.

Recently, former Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi was asked if this Patriots team was more talented than the one he was on in 2007. Here’s what Bruschi said on NFL Live via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com

"“Overreaction! Are you kidding me?” Bruschi said on the show. “That 2007 team, I’ll go straight to the defensive line, having [Vince] Wilfork, [Ty] Warren and [Richard] Seymour in front of me — three first-round picks. The talent we had along the front seven.“Randy Moss, a lot of the guys they had on offense, especially. Tom [Brady] threw 50 touchdown passes. Wes Welker couldn’t be stopped in the slot. And you know what else is a talent? Mental toughness, and that’s what those guys had, because to go 16-0, to carry that burden.”"

Comparing the two teams is quite difficult on the offensive side of the ball, both squads have Tom Brady. Even though Brady threw 50 touchdown passes that season, he will be heading into 2017 coming off setting the NFL record for best touchdown to interception ratio in the NFL.

The addition of Cooks this offseason helps make the wide receiver corps a much tougher call to make. Also, both offensive lines look to be about even.

On the defensive side of the ball, the 2007 Patriots certainly had an advantage up front with Vince Wilfork and Richard Seymour. However, the 2017 Patriots might have the best secondary in the NFL with Gilmore, Malcolm Butler, and Devin McCourty.

Next: 5 Reasons why Dolphins will not win AFC East

While the 2017 season will have to play about before we can compare the two teams. However, it is certainly encouraging to see the Patriots being compared to that team. Time will tell who will be better, but it could certainly be a storyline to follow in 2017.

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