Patriots Schedule 2023: Game-by-game predictions for upcoming season
Week 2: vs. Miami Dolphins on Sunday Night Football
Welcoming the Dolphins to Foxboro has historically gone far differently than when the teams meet down south.
Although the timing of this game can also help determine who may walk out the victor, the Patriots have kept the score close since Mac Jones took over as quarterback in 2021. The defense has been a consistent force against the speedy Dolphins' offense, with Tua Tagovailoa, Jaylen Waddle, and Tyreek Hill keeping all three mostly in check in their meetings.
This seems like a potential series to be split in the division, with the Patriots getting the win at home.
Week 3: @ New York Jets
Back-to-back divisional games early in the season can be good or bad, depending on how you view things.
The positive? You get an early look at your closest competition, preparing you for the next time you're set to meet again. But the negatives? Your chances of winning can be slimmer due to how early in the season you're playing each other.
Most media and New York fans have already decided the Jets are a team to be feared based on what we see of their team on paper. But the Patriots are not a team that goes into a game with a losing mentality, even if their quarterback is a future Hall of Famer.
It's obvious that playing the Jets twice a season now won't be easy with a Rodgers-led offense and a much-improved defense.
However, recent history (even with Mac Jones under center) suggests the Patriots can get the job done in New York or at home when facing their long-time divisional rival, making it difficult to choose against them for this game, especially with the uprise and improvements made to an already impressive Patriots defense.