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New England Patriots Stats, Odds, Standings, Schedule, 2023 NFL Season

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. After dominating the NFL for two decades, the New England Patriots have returned to earth after a disappointing 2022 season. The season was sluggish, especially on offense, with a former special teams assistant and defensive coordinator calling the plays. Missing the playoffs last season, and barely making it in 2021, before being eliminated in humiliating fashion has sparked a need for change in New England. However, Las Vegas NFL odds don’t think there will be anything different in 2023.

New England Patriots Last Seasons Performance

In 2022, the Patriots went into their bye in Week 10 with a 5-4 record. They went 3-5 in the final eight games, ending any chance of making the playoffs. Like most seasons, the Patriots’ defense held its own, being a big reason for the solid start of the season and still being favored in NFL lines. With head coach Bill Belichick taking on more responsibilities, the defense finished 11th in points allowed and eighth in yards.

However, the offense was far from exciting. Long-time offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels moved on to become the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. Instead of finding a new offensive mind to replace McDaniels, the Patriots settled for Joe Judge and Matt Patricia, who had no offensive play-calling experience.

The offense lacked an identity, which was evident on the field. On top of that, there was not a lot of talent on the roster, leading to many NFL news worthy moments of second-year quarterback Mac Jones looking frustrated. He struggled in 2022 after making the Pro Bowl in his rookie season, throwing for 2,997 yards, with 14 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions over 14 starts.

New England Patriots Key Additions

Improving the offense was clearly at the forefront of the Patriots‘ minds heading into the 2023 offseason. The most significant moves New England made in free agency were to bring in help for Jones.

They signed tight end Mike Gesicki to a one-year deal worth $9 million. On top of that, they signed Super Bowl-winning wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster for $33 million over three years. The Patriots are going to hope that Smith-Schuster can immediately be their No.1 receiver, with no other option on the roster. The play of these two will have a massive effect on the team’s NFL odds.

The Patriots also filled some gaps on the offensive line, signing Riley Reiff and Calvin Anderson while adding a running back with upside, Ty Montgomery.

However, the focus of the Patriots in the draft was defense. Their first three picks were on the defensive side of the ball, headlined by the 17th overall pick, cornerback Christian Gonzalez. The Patriots have always been a solid franchise at drafting, and with 12 selections, they are bound to find some contributors.

New England Patriots Key Subtraction

One positive about not having the most talented team in 2022, the Patriots didn’t have to deal with many teams going after their free agents. That allowed New England to re-sign many of their players. Still, the offense did lose two key players in wide receiver Jakobi Meyers and running back Damien Harris. Meyers signed with the Raiders after leading the Patriots in receiving yards, 804. Harris signed with the Bills. Tight end Jonnu Smith was also traded, never finding a role with the team.

New England Patriots Head Coach Analysis

It might be surprising, but six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach Belichick might be on the hot seat in 2023. With the lack of success since Tom Brady left, owner Robert Kraft wants to see improvements.

That might have led to Belichick going out and hiring Bill O’Brien to run the offense. He was an offensive coach for the Patriots from 2007-11. Then, O’Brien became the head coach of the Houston Texans in 2014, being fired in 2020. Since then, he has spent the last two years calling the offense for Alabama, coaching Jones in 2020, and winning a National Championship.

New England Patriots Injured Players at the Beginning of the Season

There is a chance that the Patriots could start the season relatively healthy if nothing happens during training camp or preseason. They have three players expected to return by Week 2, defensive back Cody Davis, guard Mike Onwenu, and defensive end Justus Tavai. Of those three, Mike Onwenu will have the most impact on NFL spreads starting 17 games last season.

Linebacker Raekwon McMillan will also miss the whole season with a torn Achilles suffered in OTA’s.

Infographic NFL Patriots
Infographic NFL Patriots

New England Patriots Offense

The Patriots’ offense clearly needed improvement after 2022. The play-calling was simple, and the roster was not nearly talented enough to have success. While the roster has not seen a massive injection of talent, it should be better, with Smith-Schuster, Montgomery, and Gesicki replacing Meyers, Harris, and Smith.

On top of that, by O’Brien being someone that knows how to coach an offense, the Patriots should see an uptick in scoring. Jones already knows what kind of offense O’Brien will implement, which should help him have a bounce-back season. In Jones’ rookie season, he threw for 3,801 yards with 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Expect him to be closer to that in 2023.

Furthermore, the Patriots have always had a solid running game, and Rhamondre Stevenson has taken over the lead-back responsibilities. He finished 2022 with 1,040 yards rushing and leading the team in receptions, despite only starting seven games.

New England Patriots Defense

Given Belichick’s history in coaching defenses and his track record since becoming the Patriots’ head coach, there is no doubt they will be fine on this side of the ball. Every year it seems like a new name shows up in the Patriots’ secondary that turns heads, and this season it could be Gonzalez.

Along with the Patriots’ elite secondary, their defensive line was great in 2022. Matt Judon led the team with 15.5 sacks, while Josh Uche followed him with 11.5. Furthermore, the Patriots were among the best teams against the run, allowing the sixth-fewest yards.

New England Patriots Special Teams

Nick Folk was the kicker for the Patriots last season, but they also drafted Chad Ryland in the fourth round. There will likely be a competition for who is the starter in 2023. The Patriots also drafted a punter in Bryce Baringer, who will likely be the starter in 2023.

New England Patriots Prediction for the 2023 Season

NFL betting seems to believe that the Patriots will likely have another season in which they struggle. While that is probably accurate, it might not be the most straightforward bet. Despite not adding elite talent, having a legit offensive coordinator could change things. They will also have one of the best defenses in the league, which will help keep within reach. Sure, they might not make the playoffs, but the Patriots will be competitive all season.

New England Patriots Final Thoughts

The best move this offseason for the Patriots was hiring O’Brien. He should immediately improve the offense, and New England could be interesting due to their solid defense. However, the AFC East is a difficult division. The New York Jets and Miami Dolphins are teams on the rise. The defending winner of the division, the Buffalo Bills, won 13 games last season. That could lead to the Patriots finishing last in the division, despite being better than in 2022.

New England Patriots FAQ

Who are New England’s most impactful players?

The most impactful players on the Patriots headed into 2023 are quarterback Mac Jones and pass rusher Matt Judon. They both play the most crucial position on each side of the ball.

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Who was the Patriots' quarterback before Tom Brady?

Before Tom Brady became the starting quarterback for the Patriots, they had Drew Bledsoe. He was injured in the second game of the 2001 season, and Brady took over, never looking back and winning the Super Bowl.

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Why did Tom Brady leave the Patriots and go to Tampa Bay?

It seemed like Brady’s contract was a big reason why he left the Patriots to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On top of that, there might have been friction between Brady and head coach Bill Belichick.

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Will Bill Belichick retire after this season?

There is a possibility that Bill Belichick will retire from football after this season, especially if the Patriots struggle. However, he might not stay retired for too long.

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