Patriots: 3 best quarterbacks team will face in 2021

The New England Patriots are striving to return to the playoffs next season after a miserable campaign, at least compared to their standards, in 2020.

Luckily for them, their favorable schedule draw indicates they have a tremendous shot of doing just that. The biggest takeaways from the big reveal include the Patriots having three primetime games, just one short week and the 12th-toughest strength of schedule.

The Patriots also have a great chance of starting the year 2-0 heading into their Week 3 showdown against the Drew Brees-less Saints. Not only have the Dolphins won in Foxborough just once over the last decade, but New England should dismantle the Jets in Week 2.

Speaking of quarterbacks, perhaps the only downside of the Patriots’ schedule is that they’re slated to play against some of the league’s elites at the position. With that in mind, let’s attempt to single out the three best QBs on New England’s schedule.

Full disclosure: given Deshaun Watson’s legal troubles, we’re assuming he won’t be available for the Patriots’ Week 5 matchup and Houston and therefore didn’t include him.

Here are the three best quarterbacks the Patriots will face in 2021.

3. Dak Prescott

Dak Prescott is very much a polarizing player in the national media, which can’t seem to make up its collective mind on whether he’s “elite” or not. Regardless of where you side on that debate, however, Prescott’s track record was enough to give him the nod over Baker Mayfield, the unproven Justin Herbert, Matt Ryan, and Ryan Tannehill.

Before suffering a season-ending ankle injury last year, Prescott was on pace to break all kinds of passing records. For context, his 1,856 passing yards were the most through five weeks in the NFL in eight seasons, if you can believe it. He was also on pace to pass the 6,700-yard threshold, which would’ve shattered Peyton Manning’s 2013 record of 5,477.

Prescott won’t wow you with his arm strength or throwing mechanics, but he’s tough as nails and knows what it takes to win, which is evidenced by his 47-27 career record. In his last full season (2019), the former fourth-round pick completed 65.1% of his passes for 4,902 yards and 30 TDs to just 11 interceptions.

Whether you rate him highly or not, the Patriots should fear Dak Prescott.

Again, Prescott might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but he’s easily a top 10 quarterback in the league and could grow higher on that list with another stellar year for the Cowboys. Given how woeful their defense projects to be, he’ll need to be exceptional for that team to qualify for the postseason despite them playing in a very average NFC East division.