It’s a scary thought that the 2016/17 Super Bowl champions got better in the off season. But the truth of the matter is they did. The Patriots pulled far ahead of the AFC pack this past off season. The only teams that were more active than the Patriots were the Browns, Raiders,Colts and Titans. Patriot nation is talking about a 19-0 season but it is what it is just talk. When the clock struck twelve this past March 1st the Patriots went right to work stockpiling in quest of super bowl number six. The Pat’s started out by signing Bills cornerback Stephon Gilmore to seven years the biggest free agent signing in Patriot history. Then it was a trade with the Saints that bought 23 year old receiver Brandon Cooks to New England. On a normal season Pat’s fans hope that veterans Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola can stay healthy. But hopefully not this year Cooks joins Amendola, Edelman, Chris Hogan and Andrew Hawkins In the tight end department the Pat’s got another shot in the by signing Colts tight end Dwayne Allen and Chiefs tight end James O’Shaughnessy . If Gronkowski goes down the Pats are well stocked. On the defensive side of the ball the Pats reached at one year deal with holdout Malcom Butler. The long rumored deal had Butler going to New Orleans for it’s 11th pick in the first round but the deal never happened. Butler and Gilmore will be the toughest backfield to throw on. If the Pats stay fairly healthy they could make their second trip to the Super Bowl in two years. Make no mistake about the schedule is not as easy as people think. Any game at Pittsburgh is tough as is the Falcons and Raiders. A trip to Miami later on in the season is no easy task. Don’t forget the 10-6 Dolphins were one of the most improved teams in the AFC last year. If all goes according to plan look for the Patriots and Raiders to meet in the AFC Championship game in January. I look for the Raiders to win the AFC west in 2017.
