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Who are the New England Patriots’ top threats to going 16-0?

By Patrick Morgan

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 08: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots looks on during the game between the New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium on September 08, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 08: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots looks on during the game between the New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium on September 08, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – FEBRUARY 04: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots and Malcolm Jenkins #27 of the Philadelphia Eagles react during the second quarter in Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium on February 4, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – FEBRUARY 04: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots and Malcolm Jenkins #27 of the Philadelphia Eagles react during the second quarter in Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium on February 4, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

3. Philadelphia Eagles

While Dallas is certainly a threat on New England’s regular season schedule this year, there’s another NFC East foe that should pose an even greater challenge for the Patriots… and that’s the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Eagles are less than 20 months removed from their dramatic shootout victory over the Patriots in Super Bowl 52. While Philadelphia actually leads the all-time series against New England by an 8-6 margin in regular and postseason games, it’s interesting to note that current Philly QB Carson Wentz has still never faced the Pats. In the last two games between these franchises (both Philadelphia wins), the starting quarterback for the Eagles was either Nick Foles or Sam Bradford.

Most football observers and analysts would probably agree that Wentz is better than either of those guys, so it stands to reason that fans of the Eagles should approach this game with confidence come Week 11 this year. The Patriots will head to Lincoln Financial Field fresh off their bye week, which should also help instill some confidence in New England fans that Belichick will have plenty of time to draw up a good game plan for this particular opponent.

Like Dallas, Philadelphia began their 2019 campaign in thrilling fashion. Just as the Cowboys fell behind early to the Giants before rallying to an eventual rout, so too did the Eagles come back from a 17-0 initial deficit to defeat the Redskins.

The performance was far from perfect, but Philly showed tremendous heart and fight in clawing back from the hole they found themselves in to emerge with a ‘W.’ More importantly, Wentz looked to be in midseason form once he started firing bombs to electric wideout DeSean Jackson, showing the world along the way that he’s fully-healed from the back injury that cut short his 2018 season.

New England has a better team this year than the 2017 squad that fell to Philadelphia in the Super Bowl, but that doesn’t mean the Eagles couldn’t once again play spoiler and break the hearts of Boston fans all over again if everything goes according to plan for Wentz and head coach Doug Pederson.

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