Did the loss to the Chiefs change your perspective on how many games the Patriots will win?
Welcome to Boston.com’s Sports Q, our daily conversation, initiated by you and moderated by Chad Finn, about a compelling topic in Boston sports. Here’s how it works: You submit questions to Chad through Twitter, Facebook, email, his Friday chat, and any other outlet you prefer. He’ll pick one each day (except for Saturday) to answer, then we’ll take the discussion to the comments. Chad will stop by several times per day to navigate. But you drive the conversation.Has the loss to the Chiefs changed your perspective on the Patriots in terms of their final record? Obviously they’re still winning the AFC East. But if you thought they were going 14-2 or 13-3, do you downgrade them by a win or two after that debacle? — Mike R.
I actually do, but for this reason: I wavered between believing they’d go 12-4 (which they did every season from 2012-15) and 13-3. I picked them to go 13-3, guessing they’d lose on the road to Denver and Miami and at home to the Falcons.
I had the Chiefs game marked down as a fairly easy W, which was disrespectful to a talented, well-coached team. Now that it’s an L, it makes you wonder if there are other unexpected defeats looming. The Saints game looks tougher now (despite their clunker on the road in Minnesota) if only because of the specter of falling to 0-2. That Raiders game in Mexico City will be tough. It’s not an easy schedule.
I’m not worried about the Patriots. A lot of good, trustworthy players had bad nights. The defensive front seven (really a front six given how often they go to five defensive backs) isn’t deep, but features more talent (Dont’a Hightower, Malcom Brown, Alan Branch, budding star Trey Flowers) than it gets credit for.
They’re going to be fine. Better than fine. They’re going to be 12-4, and then the real fun starts. Can’t win 14 games every year, you know.
But what do you guys think? Did the Patriots’ opening-night loss change your wins projection for the regular season? I’ll see you in the comments.
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