3 Reasons the Patriots are still Super Bowl contenders without Brady

2. Patriots defense will still display dominance

One thing that was consistent throughout the course of the 2019 season in New England was the Patriots’ play on the defensive side of the ball and their dominance in shutting down opposing offenses week-in and week-out.

The storyline of the defense being the strong suit of the team is something we haven’t been used to seeing out of New England, especially when Tom Brady has led things under center for the Patriots offense.

A year ago, however, that was indeed the case as New England’s defensive unit was its largest bright spot and was dominant throughout the entirety of the season. That is a trend Bill Belichick and company hopes carries over to the 2020 campaign, and there are early signs showing that could once again be the case while carrying the team in somewhat of a transitional season.

If the Patriots defense is able to step up and shine throughout the year once again while allowing the offense to find its footing at least in the first few games of the regular season, that will boost New England’s efforts in trying to return to the postseason and potentially make a deep playoff run once again.

Last year, 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.

There has been a little bit of turnover on that side of the field, as has been the case with things offensively in Foxborough, but it will be important this year perhaps more than ever for the Patriots defense to once again be a top-notch group to try and continue the franchise’s annual dominance.

While New England has traditionally been a team that has been led by its ability to overpower opponents on offense and with its high-powered passing and running games, the Patriots defense could once again emerge as one of the top units in the NFL this season and could continue their dominance for at least one more year while assisting in the pursuit of another playoff run.