| The AFC East is going to be quite the battle this | | | | Their usual rivalry match with the Colts is on the books |
| season, and despite the fact that New England no | | | | again. Somehow it's the eighth straight meeting |
| longer sits atop as the legit favorite, they will be in the | | | | between the two powers, the longest current streak |
| hunt along with the Jets and Dolphins. After all, the | | | | between non-divisional opponents. The Colts have |
| Pats have won the division crown six of the past | | | | won five of the past six, and each of the past four |
| seven years and the one season they didn't Tom | | | | including the playoffs have been Decided by four |
| Brady was lost in the season opener and they still tied | | | | points or fewer. This will be the first time the game is in |
| the Dolphins atop the division. | | | | Foxboro since 2006. |
| Sept. 12 Cincinnati at New England (1:00 PM) | | | | Things don't start easy for New England with divisional |
| Sept. 19 New England at N.Y. Jets (4:15 PM) | | | | road games at the Jets and Dolphins - the Pats lost at |
| Sept. 26 Buffalo at New England (1:00 PM) | | | | both last year -- coming before that early Week 5 |
| Oct. 4 New England at Miami (8:30 PM) | | | | bye. The Patriots don't face another AFC East team |
| Oct. 17 Baltimore at New England (1:00 PM) | | | | until Week 13. That sure looks like a 2-2 start, even |
| Oct. 24 New England at San Diego (4:15 PM) | | | | though New England gets to see the Jets without the |
| Oct. 31 Minnesota at New England (4:15 PM) | | | | suspended Santonio Holmes. |
| Nov. 7 New England at Cleveland (1:00 PM) | | | | Then look at that six-game stretch following the bye, |
| Nov. 14 New England at Pittsburgh (8:20 PM) | | | | as there are five potential Super Bowl teams in there |
| Nov. 21 Indianapolis at New England (4:15 PM) | | | | with the Ravens, Chargers, Vikings, Steelers and Colts. |
| Nov. 25 New England at Detroit (12:30 PM) | | | | The only break comes at home against Cleveland. A |
| Dec. 6 N.Y. Jets at New England (8:30 PM) | | | | 4-2 record there would be very nice and 3-3 at worst |
| Dec. 12 New England at Chicago (1:00 PM) | | | | is doable. |
| Dec. 19 Green Bay at New England (8:20 PM) | | | | The Pats play on Thanksgiving for the first time since |
| Dec. 26 New England at Buffalo (1:00 PM) | | | | 2002 and should handle the Lions, who haven't won on |
| Jan. 2 Miami at New England (1:00 PM) | | | | Turkey Day since 2003. At least the Pats then get |
| That Pats' NFL schedule ranks the sixth-hardest in the | | | | plenty of time off before a likely huge Monday nighter |
| NFL for strength of schedule with an opponents' | | | | against the Jets that could well determine the division. |
| cumulative record of 136-120 (.531). By comparison, the | | | | In fact, the Pats are likely to be playing in some major |
| Pats' division compatriots, the Jets, Dolphins and Bills, all | | | | winter weather in four of their final five games. It's hard |
| have the 16th-toughest schedule. | | | | to see the Dolphins having much of a shot in Foxboro |
| Over the course of the season they will face a | | | | in January. |
| playoff team eight times, but six of those games will | | | | This looks like a 10-6 record to me for the second |
| take place in Gillette Stadium. The only two playoff | | | | year in a row, so I would take the 'over' 9.5 for my |
| teams they'll face on the road are the Jets and | | | | NFL season win total football picks I would also still |
| Chargers. New England will play five games against | | | | take the Pats to win the AFC East but this doesn't |
| opponents that won 10 or more games in 2009 and | | | | look much like a Super Bowl team. Remember, this |
| will face every team from the AFC playoffs in 2009 | | | | team won only one true road game in 2009 (at |
| as well as two from the NFC (Green Bay and | | | | Buffalo, the win over the Bucs was in London). |
| Minnesota). | | | | |