New England Patriots Game-by-Game Predictions

2022-23 NFL Futures – New England Patriots

• Super Bowl LVII: +4000
• AFC Conference: +2000
• AFC East: +500
• NFL Regular Season Wins: O 8½ -120/ U 8½ -110

Patriots, Surprise Package of 2021

Few expected the New England Patriots to be competitive in 2021, let alone give the Buffalo Bills a run for the AFC East title and clinch a playoff spot at the same time. But, that’s exactly what happened.

Somehow, Bill Belichick and rookie quarterback, Mac Jones clicked. After a slow start, with just two wins in their first six games, they went on a little bit of a tear (from Week 7 until a Week 14 bye) and reeled off seven wins in a row, including quality victories over the Los Angeles Chargers, Tennessee Titans and Bills. At that point, the Patriots were 9-4-0 and sitting at the top of the AFC East, in front of the highly fancied Bills, who were dragging their feet on a 7-6-0 record.

The ability to perform under pressure is a valuable quality, but it comes with experience. When push came to shove, Jones blinked and the Patriots went 1-3 straight up in their last four games. Josh Allen rose to the occasion and the Bills went 4-0 in their last four. And so, Buffalo flipped the script to win the divisional crown. But only just barely.

With a year under his belt, Jones could be poised for a banner sophomore season. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels’ departure to Las Vegas, along with other Patriots staff members, is something to consider. It’s bound to have some sort of impact. But it doesn’t need to be negative. The Patriots’ way was always about “the next man up.” So, there’s bound to be some continuity within the organization. Moreover, Jones will have the most important voice in his ear: Belichick’s.

So, will Jones and Belichick surprise again? Can they potentially win the AFC East against the betting online odds? Read on as we weigh in on their schedule and serve up choice NFL picks for each and every single game.

First offseason for a 2nd year QB is where you find out who wants to put in the work and who doesn’t. Excited for year two for the kid. @MacJones_10 https://t.co/q76UpbBuDU

— Julian Edelman (@Edelman11) July 14, 2022

New England Patriots Game-by-Game Preview

Week 1 at Miami Dolphins – Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 – 1 p.m. ET

It wasn’t quite the iconic phone-bashing moment, but being swept by the Dolphins in Week 18 didn’t go down well with Belichick. Another thing he might not be down with is Miami’s sweltering heat, as the Patriots open their 2022 campaign at Hard Rock Stadium, picking up from where they left off at the end of last season. This time, the Patriots will be looking for a different result. And they might just get it. The debut of a new coaching staff and teammates in Miami – such as Tyreek Hill and Terron Armstead – and a smattering of rookies could take time to jell.

Prediction: Win

Record: 1-0

Week 2 at Pittsburgh Steelers – Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022 – 1 p.m. ET

Normally, the Steelers would be a daunting prospect at Heinz Field. However, it’s the dawn of a new era in Steel City with Mitch Trubisky or rookie Kenny Pickett battling to fill Ben Roethlisberger’s big shoes. Although Mike Tomlin has yet to pick his starter, it probably won’t make a huge difference either way. Whoever trots out of the tunnel in Week 2, there are bound to be growing pains. If it’s Pickett, nobody feasts on rookies quite like Belichick.

Prediction: Win

Record: 2-0

Week 3 vs Baltimore Ravens – Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022 – 1 p.m. ET

Lamar Jackson and the Ravens descend on Gillette Stadium for the Patriots’ season home opener. The Ravens are expected to bounce back in 2022 after an injury-ravaged season saw them finish bottom of the AFC North. If the Ravens are healthy, they’re going to be competitive. That’s a given. But Belichick and the Patriots will be ready. Belichick and Jim Harbaugh go way back. As such, this is one of those games that could go either way.

Prediction: Loss

Record: 2-1

Week 4 at Green Bay Packers – Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022 – 4:25 p.m. ET

The Packers let some of their stars and established players leave this offseason – most notably, wide receiver Davante Adams, who went to the greener pastures of the Las Vegas desert. However, Aaron Rodgers will be at pains to highlight why he’s the two-time defending MVP. There’s nothing Rodgers enjoys more than putting on a clinic for the league’s newest quarterbacks.

Prediction: Loss

Record: 2-2

Week 5 vs Detroit Lions – Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022 – 1 p.m. ET

Detroit is expected to have a better season compared to last year’s. But within reason. Nobody expects the Lions’ improvements to actually include beating the Patriots at Foxboro. No way. That’s simply not happening. Color the world shocked if it does happen.

Prediction: Win

Record: 3-2

Week 6 at Cleveland Browns – Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022 – 1 p.m. ET

The longer the Deshaun Watson saga drags on, the longer he is (and the Browns are) in limbo. We could explore all the possible scenarios that could emerge here … but what’s the point if we’re going to be wrong. Who knows what the league will decide? Who knows if Watson will be playing in Week 6 or Case Keenum will be running out of the tunnel? What we do know (think) is that Belichick will likely fancy his chances either way, especially after Jones led the Patriots to the 45-7 win over Cleveland last season.

Prediction: Win

Record: 4-2

Week 7 vs Chicago Bears – Monday, Oct. 24, 2022 – 8:15 p.m. ET

Belichick has an excellent track record of success against young quarterbacks and that should improve with another victory at the expense of second-year quarterback Justin Fields and the Bears.

Prediction: Win

Record: 5-2

Week 8 at New York Jets – Sunday, Oct 30, 2022 – 1 p.m. ET

The Jets are expected to be better. The Patriots are better. Belichick hasn’t lost to the Jets in 12 straight games, but divisional rivalries are unpredictable. Tendencies point to a Patriots win, but it wouldn’t be a total shocker if the Jets recorded their first win over the Patriots here.

Prediction: Win

Record: 6-2

Week 9 vs Indianapolis Colts – Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022 – 1 p.m. ET

Last year, the Patriots, riding a seven-game winning streak and coming off a bye, lost to the Carson Wentz-inspired Colts. It was a terrible game. So, the Patriots will want payback. The Colts moved on from Wentz and upgraded to Matt Ryan with the hope the veteran quarterback will make the Colts better. Still, the NFL comes down to matchups. We’ve seen Belichick vs. Ryan before, haven’t we?

Prediction: Win

Record: 7-2

Week 10 BYE

Week 11 vs New York Jets – Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022 – 1 p.m. ET

The matchup between the second-year quarterbacks is going to be compelling, especially as this will be their second and final clash of the regular season. What happens in Week 8 is likely to have an impact on their budding rivalry. Still, respectfully, the improved Jets will face a tough ask at Gillette Stadium.

Prediction: Win

Record: 8-2

Week 12 at Minnesota Vikings – Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022 – 8:20 p.m. ET

The Patriots close out Thanksgiving Thursday’s tripleheader with a prime-time showdown against the Vikings in Minnesota. Typically, the Vikings are tough to beat at U.S. Bank Stadium, but Kirk Cousins is a wild card in prime-time football. A Patriots win is not unreasonable at all.

Prediction: Win

Record: 9-2

Week 13 vs Buffalo Bills – Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022 – 8:15 p.m. ET

It might feel like the Bills have had the Patriots’ number in recent years, but it’s really not the case. They swept the Patriots for the first time in 2020 – New England’s first year without Tom Brady and during a pandemic-restricted season. Last year, the Bills and Patriots split the series 1-1 and the Patriots challenged for the AFC East title. So, this matchup isn’t quite the foregone conclusion some would have it.

Prediction: Win

Record: 10-2

Week 14 at Arizona Cardinals – Monday, Dec 12, 2022 – 8:15 p.m. ET

The Patriots will have plenty of time to game plan for the Cardinals on Monday Night Football, their third straight prime-time game after back-to-back Thursday night engagements. Having said that, the Cardinals will be a tough out. The Cardinals might have folded down the stretch last season, but it would be presumptuous to assume the exact same thing happens again.

Prediction: Loss

Record: 10-3

Week 15 at Las Vegas Raiders – Sunday, Dec 18, 2022 – 8:20 p.m. ET

This is the game that everyone’s circled on the calendar – the reunion between Belichick and his long-time understudy, Josh McDaniels. It’s going to be strange seeing them at opposite ends of the field after so many years of standing side by side. McDaniels’ Raiders are undeniably the more star-studded outfit, but Belichick is a chess master.

Prediction: Win

Record: 11-3

Week 16 vs Cincinnati Bengals – Saturday, Dec 24, 2022 –1 p.m. ET

Cincinnati’s prospects are splitting opinions, with some NFL analysts believing the Bengals will regress this season, though their offseason moves suggest otherwise. Indeed, there’s good reason to believe the 2022 Bengals will be even better as they splurged and drafted to address needs on both sides of the ball. Belichick will game plan, the Patriots will battle, but Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and the Bengals’ O-line can run away with this game.

Prediction: Loss

Record: 11-4

Week 17 vs Miami Dolphins – Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023 – 1 p.m. ET

The Dolphins will be at the disadvantage for this game, as moving from the warm climate of Miami to play in the freezing temperatures of January can be a shock to the system.

Prediction: Win

Record: 12-4

Week 18 vs Buffalo Bills – Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023 – TBD

The league is yet to schedule this game, hoping that it will be one of the meaningful ones on the final day of the regular season. For instance, if the No. 1 seed or the AFC East title are on the line – both cases would have the Bills going all out at Orchard Park for the win. One has to give the edge to the Bills in this scenario because of their experience in this situation. Alternatively, if it’s a throwaway game in the broad spectrum of the playoff picture, the outcome could go either way.

Prediction: Loss

Record: 12-5

Take a Look at Other 2 Special Articles for This Upcoming NFL Season

• Tennessee Titans Game-By-Game Predictions
• NFC West Odds & Preview

Patriots Regular Season Win Total Betting Verdict

If the Patriots defied the NFL odds with a rookie quarterback arguably still wearing his training wheels in 2021, imagine what they can do in his second year. Indeed, imagination was allowed to run wild here, with the Patriots improving on last year’s 10-7-0 record by winning two more games (12-5-0).

Is it far-fetched? Maybe. But it’s not improbable. In any event, the point we’re raising in this way too early game-by-game preview is that the Patriots will crush the 8½ regular season win total pretty convincingly.