My honest opinions. Please note that this assumes that Brady doesn't have his leg fall off or whatever.
1. Winning the AFC East is a foregone conclusions, though I do expect the Jets and Dolphins to be more competitive this year, to be sure.
2. Getting a bye is key, and I think achievable. I think the 4 best teams in the AFC are Pats/Colts/Chargers and I'm predicting Jags. I think they are a VERY serious threat this year.
3. The Pats defense is their achilles heel. They're not getting any younger, to be sure, and the defense was the one that couldn't get the key stop in the AFCC two years ago and SB last year. Not that it's bad, but we'll see how they hold up this year with all these old-timers.
4. I don't see a SB hangover having much effect on them, to be honest. This team has huge veteran leadership, has already won SBs, and a coach and QB who are extremely highly driven.
5. Look for the offense to be absurd again. Maroney will only be better, and we'll have Morris, our other very good RB (who was averaging nearly 5 ypc last year before he was hurt) back. Another year in the system can't hurt Welker and Moss, who were phenomenal.
My prediction is an AFC East crown, and probably a bye, but after that, who knows? I think anything less than 12-4 would be a disappointment, and that we should at least win our first home playoff game. We seem to have SD's number, and I'll take Belichick/Brady over Turner/Rivers any day. Of course, I'd also take Belichick/Brady over Coughlin/Eli any day too, but that didn't work out so well one day in February this year...
