After their bye week, The New England Patriots begin their conquest towards a seventh Lombardi with the unusual Saturday night game against the Indianapolis Colts. The team is brimming with confidence and belief as they hope to push their winning streak to 10 games. After a 2-4 start, the Patriots have bonded together in this wild season after being counted out and criticized. They are now poised to end the season strong with master strategist Bill Belichick as captain of the ship. In this article, we will preview the hurdles the team will face, discuss the Superbowl matchup the world wants to see, and project what another championship would mean for Belichick’s legacy.
1. The Final Stretch-the Patriots road ahead in these final four weeks of the regular season will not be easy. The Patriots will first face a dangerous Colts team fighting hard for a wild card spot. Then, next week they will face the Buffalo Bills that want to exact revenge for their week 13 loss in gusty winds. The Bills will be desperate to preserve their place in the playoffs. The Patriots end the season with a trip to Miami that are right on the edge of the playoff picture after winning five straight wins. The Dolphins historically give the Patriots problem late in the season due to the drastic difference in temperature at this time of the year. The only easy game on paper is when the team faces the Jacksonville Jaguar at home. However, in the NFL, any team can lose in any week if they fail to execute.
2. Home Field Advantage-the Patriots are currently tied with the Chiefs and Titans at 9-4 in the battle for home-field advantage. Although the Patriots handily beat the Titans, they are a team molded in the mindset of their head coach Mike Vrabel which is to never give up even without star Derick Henry. The Chiefs are the second hottest team in the NFL with a six-game winning streak. The Chiefs are a dangerous team because of their stout defense that has been the foundation of their surge. However, Patrick Mahomes and the offense have the potential to explode at any given time, and they have the experience of back-to-back trips to the Superbowl. The Titans face the Steelers, 49ers, Dolphins, and Texans in the final four games while the Chiefs play the Chargers, Steelers, Bengals, and Broncos to close the season. It sets up a fantastic sprint to the end because the matchups seem even across the board. If the Patriots won the home-field advantage, a wild card bye would set up the Patriots perfectly for the playoffs.
3. Covid-19 on the rise-on Monday, the NFL reported 37 new Covid-19 cases across the league. The new Omicron variant appears to be spreading rapidly around the world, and it will create uncertainties when it comes to the availability of players in key games. It will be a decisive advantage for teams to have vaccinated players since league protocol allows them to return quicker with two negative tests within 48 hours if they are asymptomatic. Also, teams could create a bubble environment that minimizes the risk of possible transmission.
4. Buccaneers versus Patriots Superbowl-ESPN recently reported that the most likely Superbowl matchup based on computer models and projections would be the Bucs and the Patriots. It would dream matchup for the NFL and fans of the game. The week six matchup had many storylines and intrigue that lasted for weeks. It would also give us a better chance to see who is the better team is on a neutral site and in perfect conditions at SoFi Stadium. Yes, the chess match between Brady and Belichick would make fantastic television.
5. Belichick’s legacy-in my mind Bill’s legacy is cemented in the NFL as the greatest coach of all time. He has won eight Superbowls, six as a Head Coach and two as a Defensive Coordinator. However, if he wins this Superbowl, it would be his greatest accomplishment in remaking his squad, drafting a rookie quarterback, and digging out of the hole early in the season. It would make more fans appreciate that the dynastic success was equally due to both Belichick and Brady
