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Three reasons the New England Patriots could impress in 2022

By Lou Scataglia

PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 19: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots talks to Mac Jones #10 against the Philadelphia Eagles in the first half of the preseason game at Lincoln Financial Field on August 19, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Patriots defeated the Eagles 35-0. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 19: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots talks to Mac Jones #10 against the Philadelphia Eagles in the first half of the preseason game at Lincoln Financial Field on August 19, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Patriots defeated the Eagles 35-0. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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Even in the loaded AFC East and AFC conference, the New England Patriots should not be counted out as a team who could impress in 2022.

The most common story that many across the NFL landscape slap onto the Patriots for this offseason is that they largely disappointed and were one of the “losers” of the free agency period.

The team also takes a bit of a beating for some of their 2022 NFL Draft selections.

To be fair, I do not think the team got appreciably better from the end of the 2021 season until now, right on the cusp of training camp.

They certainly did not keep up with their AFC East rivals or certain teams in the AFC.

While there is likely a greater chance that they take a step back in 2022, there is always a chance that the team impresses more than we think they could in 2022.

There are a few reasons why the Patriots could impress in 2022.

MIAMI GARDENS, FL – JUNE 7: Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins throws the ball during the Miami Dolphins Mandatory Minicamp at the Baptist Health Training Complex on June 7, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FL – JUNE 7: Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins throws the ball during the Miami Dolphins Mandatory Minicamp at the Baptist Health Training Complex on June 7, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images) /

Three reasons the Patriots could impress in 2022: AFC East isn’t as good as we think

This isn’t directly related to the team performance, but the Patriots will have to play six of their 17 games in the division, and while everyone is salivating over the offseasons that the Bills and Dolphins had, but have we considered the possibility that both teams might not do as well as we think?

I think Miami is the much more likely candidate between them and the Bills.  I do not yet consider the Jets a serious contender.  Perhaps 2023 is their breakout year.

As for the Dolphins, what if, put simply, Tua Tagovailoa stinks?  I’m not actively rooting against the guy, but he is currently being put into a QB-friendly Shanahan style offense.

If he does not make a noticeable leap in year three, the Dolphins offseason additions won’t look as nice.

The Bills are likely going to be very good, and are widely seen as the Super Bowl favorites, but could all of that hype lead them to underwhelm a bit?

I do see a path for the Patriots to win four or five divisional games this season if all falls the right way.

If that’s the case, they could end up with a couple more wins than what Las Vegas and most of the NFL landscape thinks.

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