Saturday, September 10, 2022

New England Patriots Week 1 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2022 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 1 roundup for the New England Patriots in our consensus 2022 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 16

Who's on the hot seat: Senior football adviser/OL coach Matt Patricia

It is still unclear whether Patricia will be calling the offensive plays, but he's clearly one of the top coaches on that side of the ball as the transition is made from Josh McDaniels to a "new offense." Patricia has had the walkie-talkie as the primary communicator to the QBs in practice more than anyone else, but those close to the situation insist that no decision has been made on who will call the plays. Nonetheless, if the offense falters, it won't stop many from pointing fingers toward Patricia for answers why.

NFL.com -- Rank: 18

Is this offense really in as much trouble as they say? We knew this would be a transitional summer for a Patriots offense that -- for the first time in a decade -- wouldn't have Josh McDaniels leading the way. Longtime Pats beat man Tom Curran said the summertime version of the Pats' overhauled offense "has run as smoothly as a car with square wheels." So why do I still feel the Pats will figure it out? Because I never underestimate Bill Belichick. And I like the quarterback: Mac Jones was the best rookie passer last season, and it's well within the range of outcomes that he takes a significant leap in Year 2. Patience is required. The road could -- and likely, will -- be rocky early on. But don't be stunned when New England is in the playoff mix come December.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 22

Bill Belichick will truly be challenged to get this team to the playoffs. They struggled in the preseason, but that doesn't matter. A lack of talent does.

The Athletic -- Rank: 18

The good news: Even if the offense seems wildly in flux after a bizarre summer and we can't understand the plan from the outside, Bill Belichick surely knows what he's doing. Right?

The bad news: The Patriots' offensive linemen will probably have to wait at least 17 weeks or so before popping champagne in the locker room.

Nugget to remember: Jac Mones is the best current starting quarterback spoonerism.

The Ringer -- Rank: 21

Despite a promising rookie campaign from Mac Jones, there's a weighty hand over the panic button in New England. With McDaniels in Las Vegas, coach Bill Belichick will have longtime defensive coach Matt Patricia and Giants castaway Joe Judge both contributing to the offensive play calling in a system blanketed by Belichick's patented ambiguity. Reports out of New England tell a story of ugly training camp practices, and the performance of the first-team offense in preseason games was rough. The offense just isn't talented enough to be this clunky. A lot can change over the course of the regular season, and Belichick's defense will still be near the top of the NFL, but a lot needs to change, specifically on offense, for New England to have a legit shot at a postseason run.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 12

The Patriots open the season at the Dolphins. It's a big Week 1 game, and it's very possible that after it we're talking not about the Patriots' offense, but how Bill Belichick's defense forced Tua Tagovailoa into plenty of mistakes.

PFT -- Rank: 17

How many years of post-Tom Brady struggles before Brady gets more credit than Bill Belichick for the Super Bowls?

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