I said many times, if the Patriots went 4-0 on the Tenn/Buff/Indy/Buff run, I'd take them seriously as a contender.
They went 2-2, and looked overmatched in the last two games. It was a nice run, a playoff spot is probably still on the horizon, and that's far more than I'd ever thought they'd be with 15 new starters and a rookie QB. They've proven that they're not dogshit, which was step 1 going into the season (and something they didn't prove a year ago).
Everyone of import will be back (save for JC Jackson is still up in the air) for the most part. I expect Hightower to retire, because he looks completely washed, and possibly McCourty as well, and if that's the case, they can start getting measured for their red jackets.
Jones has been far better than I expected, and I think an offseason program will do him a lot of good. In the end though, he's still a rookie, and can't overcome shit play by veterans (Harry), yet. Hopefully he gets to that point. What he's not, anymore, is Rookie of the Year. The last two weeks saw to that.
I like this team going forward, everyone with a full year in the system, and Bill Belichick won't win COY, but he's going to get some well-deserved votes toward it.
I'm very optimistic for 2022. But it's time to re-adjust our expectations, I think, for 2021, and go back to where we were at the beginning of the season. Lots of talent, lots of youth, growing as a team, and get the rookie QB some experience, and get it set up for next year. That's where I've been with this team most of the year, and where I'm going to stay now.
They went 2-2, and looked overmatched in the last two games. It was a nice run, a playoff spot is probably still on the horizon, and that's far more than I'd ever thought they'd be with 15 new starters and a rookie QB. They've proven that they're not dogshit, which was step 1 going into the season (and something they didn't prove a year ago).
Everyone of import will be back (save for JC Jackson is still up in the air) for the most part. I expect Hightower to retire, because he looks completely washed, and possibly McCourty as well, and if that's the case, they can start getting measured for their red jackets.
Jones has been far better than I expected, and I think an offseason program will do him a lot of good. In the end though, he's still a rookie, and can't overcome shit play by veterans (Harry), yet. Hopefully he gets to that point. What he's not, anymore, is Rookie of the Year. The last two weeks saw to that.
I like this team going forward, everyone with a full year in the system, and Bill Belichick won't win COY, but he's going to get some well-deserved votes toward it.
I'm very optimistic for 2022. But it's time to re-adjust our expectations, I think, for 2021, and go back to where we were at the beginning of the season. Lots of talent, lots of youth, growing as a team, and get the rookie QB some experience, and get it set up for next year. That's where I've been with this team most of the year, and where I'm going to stay now.
