The New England Patriots are facing a very huge season in 2023. A ton is at stake, and there are already reasons to be nervous about the team. Listen, I know that a few of you have emailed me and have expressed your opinions about my writing. I'm sorry, I just cannot get on board with the 2023 New England Patriots.
They have one of the toughest schedules in the NFL this year and nothing special at quarterback. It's going to be a lean year, and I think we'll begin to see changes when the 2023 season becomes a lost cause. I think three reasons stick out that have made me nervous for this team ahead of 2023. Let's talk about them.
3 reasons to be nervous about the 2023 New England Patriots
1. Mac Jones
Mac Jones was a disaster in 2022, a huge regression from his promising 2021 rookie season. With a legitimate offensive coordinator now in town, and a boost with the pass catchers, there is reason to believe that Money Mac can bounce back, which would be a great thing for the Patriots. However, between the shaky offensive line and the lack of a top-end playmaker, I am just nervous that Jones is only marginally better than he was in 2022, which would not nearly be good enough.
The New England Patriots need Mac Jones to be at his best in 2023 if this team wants to even sniff the postseason.
2. The offensive line looks scary
The tackle situation really, really worries me. Trent Brown and Riley Reiff seemed to be the two projected starting tackles for the Patriots to open up the 2023 NFL season. However, Reiff was recently placed on injured reserve and is out for at least four games. Right now, there really isn't a clear player to start at RT in Reiff's absence.
Their best option honestly might be to plug a young player in at right guard and move Mike Onwenu out to right tackle, where he's played before. We may not even know what this offensive line looks like until gameday. Calvin Anderson, a free agent addition from the Denver Broncos, is also a candidate to slide in at RT. Between the unknown at RT and Trent Brown not having a great time at LT in 2022, I worry that opposing EDGE rushers are going to feast on Mac Jones.
And the Patriots have a crazy tough test in week one, as they have to face the Philadelphia Eagles' defensive line.
3. The playmakers on offense, are they good enough?
I truly don't have a huge concern on defense that is actively making me nervous for the season. The team got their CB1 in Christian Gonzalez, added a young pass rusher in Keion White, and got a nice utility player who has Patriot written all over him in Marte Mapu. The Patriots' defense is again going to rank among the top in the NFL and is a playoff-caliber unit.
What does worry me though is the offense. Who is going to step up for Mac Jones? And me even having to ask that is bad. Every elite team in the NFL has a "go-to" player on offense. The Patriots don't appear to have that, nor do they have a truly elite player besides Mike Onwenu and maybe David Andrews.
My hope is that someone steps up, and I don't really care who it is. Perhaps it's one of the young rookies in Demario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte. Maybe it's Kendrick Bourne. I don't know, but the lack of high-end playmakers makes me nervous.