2014 NFL Preview: Everything you need to know about the New England Patriots

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New England Patriots

Schedule | Roster

Seasons that don't end with the Lombardi trophy hoisted aren't considered successes in New England, but what the Patriots did in 2013 was remarkable. 

Missing five of the team's eight best players from 2012 for most or all of the season - Aaron Hernandez (released), Wes Welker (free agent), Rob Gronkowski (injured), Vince Wilfork (injured) and Jerod Mayo (injured) - the Patriots managed to win the AFC East for a fifth straight year (and 10th out of 11) and advance to within one win of the Super Bowl. 

The clock is ticking on the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick tandem - probably the best quarterback-coach duo in football history. They are no doubt keenly aware of their career mortality and hungrier than ever to bookend their legacy with another Super Bowl title (or two). 

Can this team do it? Absolutely. And, outside of a Denver Broncos team that knocked them out of the playoffs a year ago, the Patriots have the best chance of anyone in the AFC to unseat the superior NFC title contenders.

Preseason Power Ranking - #4

Gronkowski, Revis, Mayo, Wilfork - that's a serious injection of talent that wasn't there for (most of) last season. Brady and Belichick are running out of time together. This could be their last, best shot. More...

Key Additions/Departures

Key Additions: CB Darrelle Revis, CB Brandon Browner, WR Brandon LaFell, TE Tim Wright

Key Departures: OG Logan Mankins, CB Aqib Talib, LB Brandon Spikes, RB LeGarrette Blount

It's not often that a team loses one of the NFL's best cornerbacks in free agency and actually upgrades on defense, but that's what the Patriots managed to do. Talib departed for the Broncos on a six-year, $57-million deal, but the Patriots lucked out when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers cut ties with Revis a day later. It took only hours for the two sides to reach a deal. 

Revis and Belichick should be a match made in heaven. Even when Revis was with the New York Jets and the pair were supposed to hate each other, their mutual respect was apparent. Now another year removed from tearing his ACL, Revis should be ready to return to a role that included playing press man coverage against each opponents' best wide receiver. 

With Revis in lockdown mode, Belichick will be free to get creative on defense. Look for defensive end Chandler Jones and linebacker Jamie Collins to emerge as stars, as both excel in getting after the passer. 

2014 Draft Class

The story on draft day was (and remains) the puzzling selection of a quarterback in the second round. No one knocks Garoppolo's talent and potential, but why would the Patriots select a backup (and possible successor) to Brady with such a premium pick? 

Brady is 37 and insists he feels great and wants to play until he's 40, so Garoppolo could reach the end of his rookie contract without having started a game (as Ryan Mallett is about to). Why didn't the Patriots use their second-round selection to give Brady another weapon or bolster their defense? Months later, the answer is still unclear. 

Setting aside the Garoppolo confusion, the Patriots' first-round pick is one worth getting very excited about. Easley has top-five talent, but he slipped in the draft because he tore both his ACLs in college. Look for Easley to push for starter's snaps next to Wilfork. If his knees can handle it, he could be an impact player as a rookie.

Coaching Staff

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

The presence of Belichick automatically makes this the best coaching staff in the league, but it would be unwise to discount what McDaniels brings to the mix. Though he failed spectacularly as a head coach in Denver, it was due to his naivety and poor leadership, rather than a lack of football knowledge and teaching ability. 

2014 Schedule

Would anyone be surprised to see the 8-0 Patriots travel to Denver to face off against the Broncos in Week 9? The Patriots' early slate of games are all very winnable, and it's difficult to imagine this team reaching the bye with fewer than five wins. 

The quartet of games immediately after the bye could determine whether the Patriots earn themselves a second bye in the first round of the playoffs.

Bold Predictions

Chandler Jones will lead the NFL in sacks. Robert Quinn, a 2011 first-round pick, was the NFL’s biggest defensive breakout in 2013. This year, it’s a 2012 first-rounder’s turn to announce his presence to the world with a bang. Jones recorded 11 ½ sacks last season - nothing to scoff at - but his production was limited by injuries to the Patriots’ starting tackles and a lingering ankle injury of his own. Fully healthy and with Wilfork back inside eating up blockers, Jones will explode for 15+ sacks in 2014. -David Woods

Stevan Ridley gets cut at some point during the season. Belichick’s tolerance for Ridley’s fumbling issues won’t last much longer. The Patriots drafted James White, who fumbled only twice in more than 750 collegiate touches, and they are utilizing the sure-handed Shane Vereen out of the backfield more and more. Brandon Bolden is also on the roster and hasn’t coughed the ball up in two seasons, so expect Belichick to cut Ridley loose sooner rather than later. -Michael Amato

Revis records double-digit interceptions. Coming back from a torn ACL last year, Revis was good, but not the hands down best cornerback in football he had been before the injury. Tampa Bay’s refusal to scheme around his strengths also made him less effective, but he won’t have to worry about that in New England with Belichick calling the shots. In the past teams have avoided throwing Revis’ way, but with the Patriots loaded at cornerback that may not be an option. His career best for interceptions in a season is six back in 2009, but 2014 Revis will nearly double that total as he hits double digits. -Mike Dickson