New England Patriots

Who’s a threat to the Patriots in the AFC? Good question

Why is this man smiling? There are lots of reasons. Jim Davis / Boston Globe

Life is pretty good for Bill Belichick these days. The man can do no wrong.

He spots the Falcons a 28-3 lead and wins the Super Bowl anyway. He pays crazy money for Stephon Gilmore and trades away a first-round pick for Brandin Cooks, and gets lauded for “winning the offseason.” He trades away half his picks and punts on the draft, yet still gets an “A” grade from Mel Kiper.

Belichick and the Patriots have had a firm grip on the AFC over the past decade-plus, and the 2017 season figures to be more of the same. Tom Brady looks 10 years younger, the Patriots brought in elite talent in free agency, they re-signed their key core players, and they’re getting a 100 percent Rob Gronkowski for the start of the season.

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It will be a major upset if the Patriots don’t make it to a seventh straight AFC Championship game, and they will be heavy favorites to repeat as Super Bowl champions.

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