Kickoff Primer: An instant guide to the 2016 New England Patriots

AFC Previews
BUF | MIA | NE | NYJ
BAL | CIN | CLE | PIT
HOU | IND | JAX | TEN
DEN | KC | OAK | SD
NFC Previews
DAL | NYG | PHI | WAS
CHI | DET | GB | MIN
ATL | CAR | NO | TB
ARI | LA | SF | SEA

New England Patriots

Coaching Staff

Head Coach: Bill Belichick
Offensive Coordinator: Josh McDaniels
Defensive Coordinator: Matt Patricia

Key Additions

• TE Martellus Bennett
• WR Chris Hogan
• DE Chris Long
• G Jonathan Cooper
• LB Shea McClellin

Key Departures

• DE Chandler Jones
• LB Jerod Mayo
• DE Akiem Hicks
• WR Brandon LaFell
• TE Scott Chandler
• WR Aaron Dobson
• S Tavon WIlson
• C Bryan Stork

Preseason Power Rankings - No. 3

Please keep the Browns' defense in your thoughts. Tom Brady's revenge tour starts in Week 5, and New England might ride his vengeance to a top spot in the power rankings all season long. More ...

Projected Starting Lineup

*Right tackle Sebastian Vollmer is reportedly expected to be placed on IR
*Running back Dion Lewis will miss the beginning of the season recovering from knee surgery
*Quarterback Tom Brady is facing a four-game suspension to begin the season

*Defensive end Rob Ninkovich is facing a four-game suspension for violating the league's PED policy

Questions to Answer

• Can Jimmy Garoppolo weather the storm for four games?
• Will anyone have an answer for the combination of Gronkowski and Bennett?
• How will Tom Brady deal with a month away from his team?

Best-case Scenario

After stepping in as an unassuming backup, Garoppolo is revealed to be Brady 2.0 and leads the team to a 3-1 record before Tommy Boy gets back. Brady uses the fuel from his suspension to topple every opponent in his way, as Gronkowski and Bennett annihilate secondaries in the process. The Patriots cruise to their eighth-straight division title on route to a fifth Super Bowl victory, cementing Brady as the greatest quarterback in NFL history.

Worst-case Scenario

In their first set of games without Brady since 2008, the Patriots offense is rendered useless without its future Hall of Fame quarterback. Brady's absence from football leads to rust and a slow start for No. 12 upon his return. No one steps up to fill Chandler Jones' vacant pass-rusher role and Ninkovich's injury lingers. The Patriots have to scrape and claw for victories and finish with an 8-8 record, the first non-winning season of the Belichick era.