The Patriots are officially in Seattle, putting the final touches on their preparation for their Week 1 Super Bowl rematch with the Seahawks on Wednesday night.
It will be a battle of two teams hoping to keep the momentum going, with the Patriots seeking revenge after suffering a devastating championship loss, while the Seahawks hope to prove the doubters wrong about being legitimate contenders in a stacked NFC.
A lot of focus will be on New England's offense, in particular, with Drake Maye projected to have another leap in Year 3, mainly due to the addition of A.J. Brown to the receiving corps. On top of that, the running backs are expected to become an even more vital part of the game plan, even if that will have to wait until after Week 1.
That's because TreVeyon Henderson was just ruled out by the Patriots for their first matchup of the season, meaning Rhamondre Stevenson will take on a heavier workload to start the year. Henderson injured himself last month and hasn't practiced since August 24, so it isn't exactly shocking that he won't suit up this week.
And while that might be bad news, there was a silver lining in the latest injury report: Christian Barmore was a full participant for the second day in a row.
Patriots lose TreVeyon Henderson for Week 1, but gain key defender from mysterious absence
Although Barmore might not seem like as big a loss to the team as Henderson, he has become one half of an elite defensive tackle duo with Milton Williams over the past year.
Because the defensive line changed so much this offseason, it is crucial they have those two veterans lined up and ready to go on Wednesday, or they might have no chance of stopping an explosive Seahawks offense.
That will be especially true for rookie running back Jadarian Price, who is projected to have a big debut, and if Barmore weren't on the field, that would be a near guarantee.
He is facing significant pressure to continue his ascent this season after what most would consider an up-and-down career so far, and he has a lot to live up to after receiving a massive extension during the Jerod Mayo era.
He will have his first chance at shutting down those concerns against the Seahawks, and hopefully, he can do that with ease.
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