The Patriots are off to their fourth 5-0 start under Bill Belichick, but this time around it’s an elite defense leading the way. For a team that has gone to eight-straight AFC championship games and four of the last five Super Bowls, is there anyone who can stop New England?
US Sportsbooks have the Pats as solid favorites so if you’re looking to bet the Super Bowl now might be a good time. The Kansas City Chiefs got off to a great start behind the electric Patrick Mahomes, but an ankle injury to Mahomes helped hand the Chiefs their first defeat of the season.
Teams like Houston and Baltimore have shown glimpses of being explosive teams and with mobile quarterbacks, they could challenge the vaunted Patriots defense like we haven’t seen yet. Buffalo gave the Pats everything they could handle in Week 4 and feature a defense that has slowed down Tom Brady the last few times they’ve played.
The Patriots always seem to get better, so that a handful of teams that have the talent and coaching to compete must follow suit. But perhaps the biggest key will be who stays most healthy.
The Patriots have already matched their high of players on injured reserve from last year, but could be poised to get starting left tackle Isaiah Wynn and rookie first-rounder N’Keal Harry back later this season. Those are two players who could provide a nice boost for the Pats.
The Patriots continue to be one of the best-coached and well-run organizations in professional sports. Their schedule has had an easy start but will get tougher, with conference rivalry games in November and December. Those games will have a huge say in seedings and where the playoff games are played.
A return trip to Kansas City for a second-straight year on the road in the AFC Championship would still provide a huge challenge for the Patriots and one they might not be able to overcome again.
