Patriots Over / Under Season Wins
The Patriots won their 11th AFC East title in the last 12 years, finishing up the 2013 regular season with the second best record in the conference at 12-4.
Over Under Lines
2013 Record: 12-4 (1st in AFC East)
New England Patriots o10.5 (-160) u10.5 (+130)
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With that, New England has now won at least 10 games in each of the last 10 seasons, but nothing is a guarantee, as seen by the Pats 26-16 loss to the Denver Broncos in last year’s AFC Championship Game.
That makes it two years in a row that the Pats have been eliminated in the battle for the AFC title, and marked the ninth year since New England has hoisted the Lombardi Trophy.
Still, the Patriots have been to the Super Bowl twice in the last seven years, and as long as head coach Bill Belichick is at the helm and Tom Brady is at quarterback, the expectations are always there.
And some key moves this offseason have New England fans thinking this could be the year the Patriots punch their first Super Bowl ticket since 2004.
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Offensively, the Pats look good, even with a 37-year-old quarterback whose career is coming to a close.
And while Brady’s numbers weren’t were they have been in seasons past, he still tossed 4,343 yards with 25 TDs in 2013. If star tight end Rob Gronkowski and receiver Wes Welker can start the season and stay healthy, those numbers could rise in 2014.
Gronkowski enters the 2014 season at full strength, and his presence will determine just how good the New England offense will be. That’s important, as the Pats will rely more on their passing game after losing one of their top rushers in LaGarrette Blount.
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They do however return leading rusher Stevan Ridley.
The o-line in the meantime, needs some improvement, particularly their pass protection. Brady was sacked 40 times last year. The good news is that all five starters return up front.
Defensively, the Patriots ranked 26th in total defense (373.1 ypg) and 10th in scoring defense (21.1 ppg) last year.
But this year things should get better up front with a few key players coming back from injury, along with a couple key players added this offseason.
The Patriots secondary will get the benefit of having one of the best corners in the game in Darrelle Revis, who I think is going to do well under Belichick’s direction.
He will play opposite of another talented corner in Brandon Browner.
Matt’s Free Prediction — OVER —
I believe this is the team to beat in the AFC in 2014.
With a healthy Gronkowski, the Patriots will be explosive on the offensive side of the ball, and defensively they will be solid.
I like the over here with New England finishing 13-3, in their way to the Super Bowl.
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