3. Patriots defense will take a bit of a step back
During a season where the offensive unit struggled to find consistency and thrive week-in and week-out, the Patriots defense on the other side of the ball was about the exact opposite in 2019.
Going into the new year, New England will hope to get its defense back to being one of the top defensive units in the entire NFL, although that might not end up being the case once the year actually kicks off.
Whether it was players departing in free agency this offseason or a handful of players deciding to opt out of the year due to COVID-19 concerns, the Patriots defense might look a bit different in 2020 and therefore it could take a bit of a step back compared to what took place a season ago.
In 2019, New England’s defense ranked first in the NFL in total yards it allowed opposing offenses to average per game, giving up 275.9 yards per game. The Patriots also ranked first in points given up per game with 14.1, while also managing to record a league-most 25 interceptions throughout the year.
With some uncertainties still remaining on offense and wondering just how this offensive group will look with a flood of new faces, New England will have to rely on its defense to once again try and keep it in games throughout the year.
Although the Patriots defense will continue to be near the tops in the NFL, they will take a bit of a step back compared to the dominance that was on display during the 2019 campaign.