The oddsmakers at Sportsbook.com have spoken and have made the New England Patriots the favorites at 2 to 1 odds to win teh Super Bowl this season. Find out if Jeff Alexander thinks they are everything they are cracked up to be in this 2007 New England Patriots predictions article for Point-Spreads.com.
After coming up just a little shy of reaching their fourth Super Bowl in six years, the Patriots took a new approach and attacked the free agent market aggressively to fill in their weak spots in 2007.
New England first addressed its aging linebacker unit by signing ex-Ravens strong side linebacker Adalius Thomas to a huge multi-year deal. A number of teams across the league were dying to get their hands on this guy, but New England showed him the money and a team capable of winning a title now to get him aboard.
Next, the team shored up its makeshift wide receiver corps by acquiring Wes Welker in a trade with Miami and signing free agents Donte’ Stallworth and Kelley Washington as well. Tom Brady had to be ecstatic about getting a deep threat like Stallworth and then, when the Pats swung the biggest trade of draft weekend when it acquired Randy Moss for a fourth-round pick, he likely peed himself.
The additions on both offense and defense addressed the team’s biggest weaknesses and have positioned the Patriots as the team to beat in 2007.
Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels seems to prefer spreading the field and opening up the passing game, but the Patriots didn’t possess the personnel to use that style in 2006, except against the shoddiest pass defenses in the league. With QB Tom Brady at his athletic peak and finally presented with a solid team of wide receivers, and Laurence Maroney taking over as the feature back, look for the Patriots to utilize the pass more often, attacking opponents through the air early to set up the run late. Likely, the late running will just be to milk the clock as the Patriots won’t be playing from behind in too many this season.
Thanks to special trio of Richard Seymour, Ty Warren, and Vince Wilfork, the Patriots continue to utilize a base 3-4 defense, especially in run downs or against solid running teams. In passing spots, or against quality passing teams, they like to use a 4-3 scheme that moves Seymour inside, where he can push the pocket with his power, and they like to add defensive end Jarvis Green, a good pass rusher into the mix in these spots as well. All-around linebacker Adalius Thomas adds another weapon to the Pats arsenal which should take some pressure off of the aging Tedy Bruschi and safety Rodney Harrison.
New England Patriots 2-1
San Diego Chargers 5-1
Indianapolis Colts 7-1
Chicago Bears 16-1
Baltimore Ravens 25-1
Pittsburgh Steelers 30-1
Cincinnati Bengals 25-1
Denver Broncos 25-1
Philadelphia Eagles 18-1
Dallas Cowboys 25-1
Carolina Panthers 25-1
Seattle Seahawks 18-1
New Orleans Saints 18-1
New York Giants 35-1
Jacksonville Jaguars 30-1
Kansas City Chiefs 60-1
New York Jets 40-1
Miami Dolphins 55-1
Tennessee Titans 60-1
Atlanta Falcons 60-1
Buffalo Bills 100-1
Washington Redskins 40-1
Arizona Cardinals 40-1
Saint Louis Rams 50-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 45-1
San Francisco 49ers 20-1
Minnesota Vikings 50-1
Green Bay Packers 40-1
Houston Texans 100-1
Oakland Raiders 75-1
Cleveland Browns 100-1
Detroit Lions 100-1
