Patriots-Seahawks preview: Could the Patriots move to 2-0?

The Patriots are not used to playing the role of Cinderella, but they are looking like the belle of the ball right now. Every year there is always a team that exceeds expectations and turns heads. Last year it was the Houston Texans behind their rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud. Could the Patriots be that team this year?

Many predicted the Patriots to be favorites for the top draft pick next year. The over/under for wins has been around 4.5. The Patriots have the toughest schedule in the NFL. The beginning of that schedule, in particular, was viewed as brutal. 

The football gods have, with the exception of a football glued to a helmet in the Super Bowl, usually treated the Patriots kindly. They have been, particularly, kind in terms of weakening opponents by the time the Patriots have to face them.

Heck, the Patriots made it to the playoffs in Mac Jones’ rookie year – at one point winning seven games in a row. Remember that? Me neither.

The reason that team made the playoffs, though, was because they faced a ton of backup quarterbacks. It seemed like every time a team was getting ready to come to Foxboro, their starting quarterback or even running back (Derrick Henry, Nick Chubb) or wide receiver (A.J. Smith) would get hurt either a week or two before.

This year is beginning to look the same. A once formidable stretch at the beginning of this season is looking far more navigable. The Bengals were without top wide receiver, Tee Higgins. Their other star wideout, Ja’Marr Chase, had only practiced a few days after holding out (or holding in) for a new contract.

Another key omission from the Bengals was self-inflicted when, for whatever reason, they traded their best running back, Joe Mixon. The result was an offense that mustered only ten points against the Patriots in Week 1.

The New York Jets, who the Patriots play next week, looked awful against the 49er’s in Week 1. They, certainly, didn’t look like a Super Bowl contender like some have predicted. Aaron Rodgers looked immobile and, quite frankly, like a 40-year-old quarterback in the NFL coming off an ACL tear. The Jets' highly-touted defense was tormented by Brock Purdy and the 49er's.

The Miami Dolphins come to town in Week 5. It is nothing to rejoice over, but Tua Tagovailoa’s career is now in question after he suffered yet another concussion in their season opener. I wouldn't expect him to play in that Week 5 game, if at all ever again. The Miami offense was sputtering with their young star quarterback, and now, without him, they may struggle to be a .500 team.

Which leads us to Seattle, the Patriots’ opponent this week. Many speculated the Patriots could start the season 0-6. The one victory could come against Seattle in New England’s home opener. 

Surprise, surprise. The Patriots already have their first win under their belt and, now, Seattle is coming to town without their best offensive weapon, running back Kenneth Walker. Walker injured an oblique in the final moments of last week’s Seattle victory over Denver. Again, thank you, football gods.

The Seahawks will be without their starting right tackle, George Fant, as well as their best pass rusher, Uchenna Nwosu. Most importantly, tight end Pharaoah Brown may also be out. Just kidding – although, seriously, Brown would have been extra motivated to play against his former team.

So could the Patriots be 2-0 after two weeks? Yes, they could, and they should. The game is at home. Seattle has had to come cross country. Their biological clocks (not sure if that is the right term) tell them this is a 10 a.m start.

Seattle is without their best offensive weapon (Kenneth Walker, not Pharaoah Brown, just to clarify). They are without their best pass rusher. Also, Malcolm Butler will be ringing the bell atop the lighthouse at Gillette Stadium prior to the game! All signs are pointing to a victory.

If you had Seattle as the one Patriots’ victory in the first third of their schedule, there is no reason to change your opinion now. The Patriots’ players have bought into head coach Jerod Mayo and his staff’s philosophies. They have seen they can win. They have a swagger about them not seen around here for a long time.

Reports had the players chanting, “Take 'em to the hill,” in the fourth quarter against Cincy – a reference to Mayo having his players put in extra time, after practice, running up and down a hill located behind the Patriots’ practice field. The players chanting “take 'em to the hill” in the fourth quarter was a rallying cry for the players to remind them that they are better conditioned than their opponent and better equipped to finish off the game strong. Expect T-shirts to be available at the Patriots Pro Shop within the month.

I predicted Rhamondre Stevenson to have a monster season. He didn’t disappoint with his 120-yard rushing performance in the season opener. He will find Seattle more of a challenge – not just because they have a better defense than the Bengals, but because they know, if they didn’t before, that Stevenson is the Patriots’ only offensive weapon. Stop Rhamondre, and New England’s offense will be inept.

Stopping Rhamondre is easier said than done, though. For all the talk about the Patriots’ offensive line not being able to protect the quarterback, they are pretty damn good at run blocking. Rookie Layden Robinson and veteran Mike Onwenu are a force on the right side. No joke. Layden's nickname should be "Pancake" for his knack for putting defenders on the turf. Throw in fellow rookie Caedan Wallace as an extra tackle at the end and the results in the running game have been outstanding.

Following the win over Cincinnati, everyone was saying the Patriots' formula for victory isn’t sustainable. They will need more from Jacoby Brissett. There will be games when they need to lean on their quarterback to throw more than just 24 times. Those skeptics are right – but this isn’t that game.

The Seattle offense is nothing to be worried about. I’m sorry, but I still see New York Jet Geno Smith in my mind. I know he has had a resurgence in Seattle, but come on, he is still Geno Smith. Those west coast fools just don’t know it yet.

If there is one other wide receiver in the league that I would love to see wear a Patriots’ uniform, it wouldn’t be Brandon Ayuk, Deebo Samuel, or Calvin Ridley. It would be DK Metcalf. He is a unique physical specimen for a wide receiver – a one of a kind.

Metcalf is 6’4”, 235 pounds. Metcalf’s 40-yard dash time is 4.33. Tyquan Thornton, by comparison, ran a 4.28 at the combine. Thornton is almost the same height as Metcalf, but even in that category Metcalf is two inches taller. However, Thornton is fifty pounds lighter than Metcalf. Metcalf has never missed a game in his five-year career. Thornton… has.

Metcalf’s physical skill set is just amazing, but, let’s remember – Geno Smith is throwing him the ball. Metcalf only had three receptions in the season opener. Granted, he wasn’t needed as Denver's rookie Bo Nix peed down his leg all game.

Even last year, Metcalf had 1114 yards receiving, but only 66 catches. Imagine Drake Maye throwing him passes. Ahhhhhh….

Ok, back to the here and now. I drifted off there, for a second.

If the Patriots D had no problems shutting down Joe Burrow (granted, a very subdued Joe Burrow… dare I say, “Sleepy Joe”?), they’ll have no problem with Geno. The question will be if Brissett, Stevenson, and the offense can put up some points and not turn the ball over. 

Brissett almost cost the Patriots some points last week when he underthrew Hunter Henry in the corner of the end zone. Henry made a nice play to break up the interception. In a season where points will be tough to come by for New England, turnovers like that in the red zone will prove fatal.

Brissett won’t be asked to do too much in this one, again. I expect a nice game from Stevenson, but watch for a big game for backup running back Antonio Gibson. 

Gibson was on the injury list with a hip injury last week, but he is not listed this week. That is great news. Expect him to split a little more of the workload with Stevenson, and expect him to get utilized much, much more in the passing game. Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt has said that he wants his team to be the best screen team in the league, but we didn’t see much, if any, of it in Week 1. Look for them to start incorporating it this week.

Prediction: Patriots 19, Seahawks 17