The New England Patriots are still two months from the start of their 2024 season, but they'll begin training camp in just a couple of weeks on the practice fields outside of training camp.
During this dead period of the offseason, everyone is evaluating rosters and predicting what could happen in the coming months.
Pro Football Network's Dakota Randall recently put together some bold predictions for the Patriots in 2024, and the boldest of them might've been about their record.
Here's what Randall wrote:
"I have the Patriots going 9-8 in our season win-loss predictions, and I stand by that take — even though it could blow up in my face.
New England has major questions at quarterback, receiver, left tackle, and head coach. Those issues could make the season dead on arrival, and if you say you feel good about any of them, you’re either guessing or lying.
But hear me out.
The Patriots have a very good defense, one that should give them the floor of last year’s team, which was in nearly every game despite receiving historically abysmal quarterback play. They also have a more responsible QB in Jacoby Brissett and a more talented — but still underwhelming — offense. And there simply is no way the offensive coaching will be worse in 2024 than it was the last two seasons.
If New England receives even average QB play and the defense meets expectations, it stands to reason the Patriots could jump from four victories to six or seven.
From there, I’m predicting the Patriots get lucky a couple of times and other AFC teams regress — because stuff happens in the NFL. And when the dust settles, New England will be 9-8 and in contention for a playoff spot."
If New England finishes the year with a winning record, first-year head coach Jerod Mayo should win Coach of the Year, as it seems much more likely they'll have another top-three draft pick in 2025.
