New England Patriots: 5 Reasons Antonio Brown makes team Super Bowl lock

2. Defense has upgraded since last year

It seems like a regular occurrence that fans start to worry about the Patriots defense early in the season. There are often talent deficiencies on that side of the ball but, when it comes time for them to step up, the defense always seems to arrive. Entering 2019, though, those defensive concerns aren’t there for this team. In fact, this defense looks quite impressive on paper.

At every level, this Patriots team is deep. With rookie additions Chase Winovich and JoeJuan Williams, the defensive line and secondary have nice depth pieces behind the likes of Michael Bennett and Stephon Gilmore, respectively. Moreover, bringing back Jamie Collins gives New England depth at linebacker.

This is a strong group that should be that way right out of the gate, which could be dangerous if they hold to their typical pattern and get better as the season wears on.

1. Brady and Belichick remain in place

Until further notice, how can you bet against Tom Brady and Bill Belichick at this point. As much as you would expect an old-school coach and a 42-year old quarterback to typically not be worth much in the NFL, this duo has defied the odds time and again. The New England Patriots dynasty has seen a multitude of faces pass through Foxborough but it’s been these two that have stayed the same.

This would’ve been the case with or without Antonio Brown, betting on Brady and Belichick. The Pats may not have been the favorites to win the Super Bowl without the talented wide receiver but they were always going to be in the mix. Now, when you add a player of Brown’s skill level and put him at the disposal of this duo, it’s lights out for the rest of the NFL.