New England Patriots 2018 Season Preview
In today’s New England Patriots 2018 season preview we examine Patriots betting odds to win Super Bowl 2019. The New England Patriots finished tied with the best record in the NFL last season. However, they failed to win the Super Bowl. They lost to the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles got some payback for their Super Bowl loss to the Patriots.
Unlike their other two Super Bowl losses in the Bill Belichick era, this one hurt the most. This is because of the uncertainty the team felt going into the offseason.
Patriots traded away Brandin Cooks after one season. Surprising because they had traded for him previously, and he had a great season last year. Cooks finished with 65 receptions for 1,082 yards and seven touchdowns.
Patriots Betting Odds
The team also wasn’t sure if All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski, who had contemplated retirement, would return this season. Quarterback Tom Brady, who had said in the past that he wanted to play into his mid-40s, was also a question mark because of his deteriorating relationship with Belichick.
Despite all the behind the scenes drama in New England, Gronkowski and Brady confirmed they will return for the upcoming season. This makes the Patriots the favorites to win Super Bowl 2019 at 5-1 odds.
Even with the other teams in the AFC East improving their rosters, the Patriots are expected to win the division once again, and with a relatively easy schedule next season, they should be able to finish with the best record in the AFC.
Julian Edelman, who missed the entire 2017 season, will be back this year, which might be why the team felt Cooks was expendable. But they still have a few issues to fix on defense, including their pass rush and cornerback position, after Belichick’s fallout with Malcolm Butler during the Super Bowl.
Butler signed with the Tennessee Titan in the offseason and the Patriots will go in to next year without their best cornerback and a suspect defensive line.
With a few months left before the start of the regular season, Belichick is expected to plug some holes. However, will it be enough to help the Patriots win their sixth Super Bowl?
