Predicting the Patriots 2021 Season

The New England Patriots now know their schedule for the 2021 season. There are some challenges along the way during a season in which the Patriots have a lot to prove. Was 2020 a fluke? Can Cam Newton stay healthy and play at a high level? Will the defense take a jump this year? There’s a lot going on here. But the schedule is out and let’s be honest…who doesn’t love making predictions?! So let’s do just that. Let’s predict the Patriots 2021 regular season.

Week 1: vs. Miami Dolphins…Sunday 9/12/21 4:25 PM EST

This is the second consecutive year that the Patriots open up their season at home against the Miami Dolphins. With this game, it’ll give us the first look at how this Patriots team will look in 2021. For the Dolphins to move forward, they need Tua Tagovailoa to take a giant step forward. The Dolphins will be tough. But, I think Cam Newton plays an exceptional game and gets the Patriots started off on the right now.

Final Score: Patriots 24, Dolphins 17 (1-0)

Week 2: @ New York Jets…Sunday 9/19/21 1:00 PM EST

We get the first look at the Jets quarterback of the future, Zach Wilson. Wilson will have an improving offensive line at his disposal. But then again, this is Bill Belichick we’re talking about here. The defense will get pressure on Wilson and the Patriots offense has enough weapons now to take care of the Jets.

Final Score: Patriots 28, Jets 14 (2-0)

Week 3: vs. New Orleans Saints…Sunday 9/26/21 1:00 PM EST

Now this week three game against the Saints will be interesting. For one, some of your favorite CGS writers will be in attendance for this game (shoutout Matt Burnett!). Second reason being is because of the quarterback for the Saints…Jameis Winston. The Saints do have Alvin Kamara to worry about. But if the Patriots can neutralize Kamara, I’m confident the corners can take care of Michael Thomas. The Patriots should be 3-0 heading into their biggest game of the season.

Final Score: Patriots 27, Saints 21 (3-0)

Week 4: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers…Sunday 10/3/21 8:20 PM EST

This is the game of the year. Tom Brady returns. Rob Gronkowski returns. The Super Bowl champs come to Gillette. This is a game that Bill Belichick will really want to win. However, I think Tampa Bay has too many weapons on offense and their defense is young/explosive. Expect Tom Brady and the Bucs to give the Patriots their first loss of the season.

Final Score: Buccaneers 31, Patriots 17 (3-1)

Week 5: @ Houston Texans…Sunday 10/10/21 1:00 PM EST

The Patriots will get back on track in this one against Houston. Houston is on a two game win streak against the Patriots (2019 and 2020) and their roster is in shambles. Deshaun Watson probably won’t even be playing here. Even if he is, Watson won’t beat the Patriots single-handedly again.

Final Score: Patriots 31, Texans 14 (4-1)

Week 6: vs. Dallas Cowboys…Sunday 10/17/21 4:25 PM EST

This game is so tough for me. Dak Prescott comes back, but the Cowboys defense is really, REALLY bad. Yes, they drafted Micah Parsons. But they need so much more than that. I think this game is a shootout, but the Cowboys JUST squeak out of Foxboro with the win.

Final Score: Cowboys 38, Patriots 35 (4-2)

Week 7: vs. New York Jets…Sunday 10/24/21 1:00 PM EST

In week 7, the Patriots finish their regular season series with the Jets. This should be a game that the Patriots take care of business and get back in the win column. The Jets are going in the right direction, but I don’t think they’re quite there yet.

Final Score: Patriots 24, Jets 14 (5-2)

Week 8: @ Los Angeles Chargers…Sunday 10/31/21 4:05 PM EST

This gives us the rematch from last season when the Patriots throttled the Chargers in Los Angeles. This is also the return game for tight end Hunter Henry, who I expect to have a monster game against his old team. Justin Herbert is really good and will be a top quarterback in the league within due time. The Chargers selected RaShawn Slater to help with the offensive line. But honestly, I can’t get over how bad the Chargers defense and special teams were last year. Sorry Chargers fans.

Final Score: Patriots 38, Chargers 10 (6-2)

Week 9: @ Carolina Panthers…Sunday 11/7/21 4:05 PM EST

This is going to be a tough game for the Patriots as Cam Newton makes his return home to Carolina. Sam Darnold will be in a new system, so we’ll see if his game takes a turn in the right direction. Obviously, you’ll have to stop Christian McCaffrey from going off in this one. But this is a game where I think the Patriots will just make one play more than the Panthers to steal a win in Carolina.

Final Score: Patriots 24, Panthers 21 (7-2)

Week 10: vs. Cleveland Browns…Sunday 11/14/21 1:00 PM EST

Ladies and gentlemen, I have a public service announcement. *Clears throat* The Cleveland Browns are legit. The Browns are putting the pieces together. When you have Baker Mayfield, Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, David Njoku and Austin Hooper in the same offense; yeah, have fun with those matchups. The Cleveland Browns are a Jekyll and Hyde type of team. But in this one, I think they take a victory in Foxboro.

Final Score: Browns 28, Patriots 20 (7-3)

Week 11: @ Atlanta Falcons…Thursday 11/18/21 8:20 PM EST

This Thursday night showdown will have the Falcons wanting revenge for 2016. The Falcons are a team with pieces in place, but they just can’t put it together. This is a game that gets the Patriots to more wins in 2021 than they had in all of 2020. Chalk this one up as a win for the Patriots on the road.

Final Score: Patriots 31, Falcons 21 (8-3)

Week 12: vs. Tennessee Titans…Sunday 11/28/21 1:00 PM EST

A rematch against the last team Tom Brady played against as a New England Patriot. The Titans are good, plain and simple. With Derrick Henry in the backfield and A.J. Brown to throw to, you know what the Titans are going to do. Henry will probably touch the ball close to 30 times and Ryan Tannehill will simply have to be a game manager. The Patriots hang tight with the Titans, but just can’t get the job done.

Final Score: Titans 24, Patriots 17 (8-4)

Week 13: @ Buffalo Bills…Monday 12/6/21 8:15 PM EST

This is a Monday night showdown in which we’ll see the Bills and #BillsMafia be drooling over. They think they’re the kings of the AFC East in the now and in the foreseeable future. Remember, the Patriots almost upset Buffalo in Buffalo during the 2020 season. But the Bills are good and it’ll show in this game.

Final Score: Bills 31, Patriots 17 (8-5)

Week 14: BYE Week

Week 15: @ Indianapolis Colts…TBD

This is one of those games that you’d think the Patriots lose. But honestly, I love the Patriots here coming off the bye week. The Colts are a very balanced team all around. Solid running game, good defense, and now they have Carson Wentz as their quarterback. I just think Belichick is going to have a solid game plan in place to confuse the Colts. This is the one game this year that I think the Patriots win that a lot of people expect them to lose.

Final Score: Patriots 27, Colts 24 (9-5)

Week 16: vs. Buffalo Bills…Sunday 12/26/21 1:00 PM EST

The Patriots see the Bills again for the second time in a three week span. The game is a little closer in this matchup at Gillette. But I think Buffalo is just a little bit better. The Patriots will have the advantage in the playoffs though, because remember…it’s hard to beat a team three times in a season. Just wait until January.

Final Score: Bills 28, Patriots 21 (9-6)

Week 17: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars…Sunday 1/2/22 1:00 PM EST

The Jaguars have Trevor Lawrence. Great. You need more than a rookie quarterback to be considered a decent football team. Patriots win easily in their home finale.

Final Score: Patriots 31, Jaguars 14 (10-6)

Week 18: @ Miami Dolphins…Sunday 1/9/22 1:00 PM EST

So here’s the thing. I know Miami has been a house of horrors for the Patriots for a number of years. But this year seems different. For some reason, I think the Patriots ride into the playoffs winning three of their last four and with a lot of confidence. Miami takes a step back and have to reevaluate after a long offseason.

Final Score: Patriots 30, Dolphins 21 (11-6)

In Conclusion

I think 11-6 is very much on the table. The key is winning the winnable games in the first half of the season, because there’s a lot of them. Squeak out a good win against a team like the Colts will always help the cause too.

What are your predictions for the Patriots 2021 season? Tweet them at me or @CouchGuySports and let the debates begin!

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–Al Nahigian (@BigAl2793)