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2023 opponents could result in Patriots playoff berth

By Jon Cirrinone

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 18: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots watches his players, including quarterback Mac Jones #10, warm up before a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Raiders defeated the Patriots 30-24. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 18: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots watches his players, including quarterback Mac Jones #10, warm up before a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Raiders defeated the Patriots 30-24. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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Has the dust settled yet? I’m ready to put the 2022 season behind us. This Patriots team was downright frustrating. Armed with ascending young talent on both sides of the ball, this team gave us just enough each week to fool ourselves into thinking we had a shot. But it’s time to be honest with each other.

We were many things this season: tough and underrated but infuriating. In the Bill Belichick era, it feels strange to acknowledge what we were not: well-coached or a team that looked at any point like a group that could make a deep playoff run. Instead, we were a middling team in an increasingly tough AFC East all season.

But let’s look at the positives and what we should be thankful for. Marcus Jones, Kyle Dugger, Christian Barmore, and Josh Uche have all arrived. The Patriots have impressive young talent on defense, and the versatility of Marcus Jones is also obvious on special teams and even offense. Joining him on the offensive side of the ball, Rhamondre Stevenson took a ridiculous leap in his second season and could arrive in year three among the NFL’s elite.

Of course, a lot will happen between now and the kickoff to next season. There need to be changes in the coaching staff. We have tough decisions to make on extending some key agents. And we need Matt Groh to hit another home run in the NFL Draft. But if the Patriots find a way to check every box, 2023 should be a good year. So with the recent announcement of the Patriots’ 2023 opponents, let’s look ahead to next season.

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There are certainly several variables that we don’t know. Short weeks, rest, coast-to-coast travel, and so on. In another wrinkle, it looks like one of the Patriots’ nine home games in 2023 may be played in Germany. These are my far-too-early predictions for next season.

AFC East

In divisional games, I believe the Patriots get three wins. A split is always a good place to start in a relatively evenly-matched division such as the AFC East. Sometimes the Patriots will go 2-0 against one team and 0-2 against another, as they did this season. But as a general rule of thumb, a 3-3 total is a fair starting point.

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