Why the Patriots could be a tougher matchup than expected for the Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks’ first common season highway recreation below Mike Macdonald shall be in opposition to one of many NFL’s worst groups from 2023.

It was a dud of what proved to be a farewell season for legendary New England Patriots head coach Invoice Belichick. Having made the playoffs in 2021 and narrowly lacking out in 2022, the crash got here onerous for the Pats to the tune of a 4-13 file, the worst mark of his embellished profession. Former Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo can have the unenviable job of being Belichick’s successor, and the expectation is that New England shall be a bottom-tier group in 2024.

Aside from the Arizona Cardinals, the Pats are the worst group Seattle is slated to face primarily based on their 2023 file and projected win totals. Feels like a really favorable matchup for this Seahawks squad come Week 2, proper?

I’m not so certain.

This has nothing to do with the dreaded “10 am PT kickoff” narrative, which ought to be debunked given Seattle is 20-10 in that timeslot over the previous decade. Past my opinion that the Seahawks are usually not gifted sufficient to belief that any recreation is straightforward for them (no matter coach), it hasn’t been a complete shambles in Foxboro. The Patriots have quietly boasted top-of-the-line defenses within the NFL in every of the previous three seasons; it’s their offense that’s primarily prompted their dysfunction.

Patriots defensive rankings from 2021-2023

2021: DVOA – sixth | EPA/play – 4th | Pts/drive – seventh

2022: DVOA – fifth | EPA/play – third | Pts/drive – 4th

2023: DVOA – ninth | EPA/play – eighth | Pts/drive – seventh

It’s unimaginable that the Patriots protection was capable of operate at a excessive degree final season. A torn bicep price star cross rusher Matthew Judon all however 4 common season video games. Promising rookie cornerback Christian Gonzalez dislocated his shoulder and suffered a torn labrum in the identical recreation. Cornerback Marcus Jones was misplaced for the season in Week 2.

If nothing else, the Patriots protection has been virtually every little thing the Seahawks haven’t been. The largest commentary is their tackling, which has been elite. Final 12 months they have been runners-up to the Dallas Cowboys and the 12 months earlier than that that they had the bottom missed sort out fee.

On the coronary heart of New England’s protection is inside lineman Christian Barmore, who was simply rewarded with a four-year, $92 million extension. He’s nonetheless solely 24 years previous and had an excellent 2023 with a career-high 8.5 sacks.

Their secondary star is Kyle Dugger, who signed his personal four-year contract price $58 million. In addition they retained the providers of edge rusher Josh Uche, and added Cleveland Browns veteran Sione Takitaki to their linebacker group. Davon Godchaux and Anfernee Jennings performed key roles in New England’s elite run defense.

The Patriots offense will seemingly be a piece in progress. Jacoby Brissett is the without end unspectacular journeyman starter who’s now again in New England, whereas No. 3 general decide Drake Maye might not essentially be QB1 when the Seahawks recreation rolls round. New England will want lots to turnaround (notably alongside the offensive line) so as to go from a rock-bottom offense to one thing near respectable.

There’s no assure that the Patriots’ defensive success will proceed with out Belichick on the helm, however they’ve retained most of their gamers from final season and can get their injured guys again. It’s almost definitely that the Pats will as soon as once more be very formidable defensively, and with all due respect to a rebuilding Denver Broncos protection, I imagine New England would be the first massive take a look at for brand spanking new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb and the Seahawks offense.