New England Patriots: Super Bowl XLIX Champions!

The New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks contested arguably the greatest Super Bowl of all-time. It had everything from hard hitting defense to brilliant offense and just pure drama as the two teams battled it out until literally the last seconds of the game. With 23 seconds to go Russell Wilson threw an interception to Patriots rookie defensive back Malcom Butler on the one yard line sending the New England Patriots players and fans around the world to go in to a frenzy of celebration as well as disbelief that they had finally captured their first Super Bowl championship since 2004.

Brady's reaction to Butler's intercepted summed it all up for anyone associated with the Patriots

After Jermaine Kearse's catch down at the goal-line it appeared that New England would surely suffer a third straight Super Bowl defeat as it seemed once again that the football gods were once again going to snatch victory away from the Patriots with a David Tyree/Mario Manningham type play. Tom Brady and Bill Belichick in particular needed this victory more than anything to quieten down all the doubters and finally get this massive weight off of their shoulders. Despite all Brady and Belichick have achieved if Wilson had indeed completed that pass to Lockette or if the Seahawks had just run the ball with Lynch like 99.9% of people would have done then Seattle would have surely won this game and left the Patriots franchise in devastation.

But the beauty of sport is that it is all swings and roundabouts and that is none truer than in the National Football League. When Brady started his career he was a young kid fighting tooth and nail to make it in the NFL and under the guidance of Belichick the Patriots won 3 Super Bowls in 4 years thanks to a a fantastic defense, great coaching and the heart as well as the desire of a young quarterback. Some would say that at that time Brady was just a game manager, some would say that despite having the best win ratio in NFL history he hadn't won the big one since 2004 and that it was just because of that great defense that Brady had 3 Super Bowl rings. People would even dare to call Brady a choker and bring up the lack of Super Bowl success since SpyGate despite guiding his team to the big one two more times since 2004. The 2007 team almost pulled of perfection, in 2011 the Pats just couldn't get the job done and it appeared that the 4th championship may never come around.

The Patriots roster this season was the best since 2007 and all the pieces were in place for a championship. After a sluggish start to the season and the humiliation at the hands of the Chiefs in week 4 the Pats steamrolled through the regular season to finish 12-4. They pulled off a memorable comeback win over the Ravens in this years divisional round before blowing out the Colts in the AFC Championship but then the deflate-gate drama happened. Since the Pats' AFC title victory people have tried to unsettle New England just a fortnight before Super Bowl 49 but in fact deflate-gate was possibly the best thing that could of happened to the Patriots heading in to this Super Bowl matchup against the Seahawks.

To be branded cheaters and have their integrity questioned once again must have stung and team owner Robert Kraft's speech proved that when he came out and defended the franchise in emotional fashion. It inspired the team and probably gave them the final push they needed to get the job done this past Sunday. If Brady and Belichick had failed to guide the team to Super Bowl victory this time around then to be honest despite all the success of this franchise would the Patriots have been able to bounce back from a third heartbreaking Super Bowl defeat? Knowing the Patriots obviously they would have still been successful but I think three defeats in a row at a time where the window on a 4th championship is closing more and more year by year may have indeed been two much even for this masterful duo and a franchise that has been at the top of the NFL mountain since 2001.

On Sunday Night it did appear that the Patriots may lose in the big one once again. Following a brilliant drive that ended in a Brady to Gronkowski touchdown just before the half the Patriots looked in control but Seattle snatched all the momentum back when Russell Wilson put a quick drive together in under a minute to tie the game at 14 each going in to the half. Then Seattle took control leaving New England down by 10 points at 24-14 against the best defense in the league and arguably the greatest defense of all time. Tom Brady and the Patriots had it all to do especially as no team had ever come back from a deficit larger than 7 in the fourth quarter of a Super Bowl but they put together a fantastic drive which included a fantastic play on 3rd&14 which saw Brady fire a dime to Julian Edelman who had a fantastic game; the drive ended in a Brady to Amendola touchdown with just under 8 minutes to play in regulation.

Then New England's defense came up big straight away to get the ball back by forcing Seattle to a 3 and out. 24-21 4:47 left on the clock, 2&11 Brady hit Rob Gronkowski for the first down as the Patriots forced their way in to field goal range and it looked like they would at least tie the game but against this Seattle team it needed to be a touchdown especially given the circumstances. So then on 2nd and goal the Patriots scored the go ahead touchdown as Brady hit Edelman after he pulled off a spin move to put the Pats up 28-24 but then as we know it seemed Seattle would break the hearts of all Pats players and fans before Malcom Butler pulled off one of the finest plays in Super Bowl history to stop Seattle's comeback attempt and leave the Patriots in ecstasy.

The Patriots had finally avenged the demons of the past and laid to rest the painful defeat to the Giants in this same stadium back in 2007 as well as the other Super Bowl loss to New York back in 2011. Tom Brady and Belichick have now appeared in 6 Super Bowls with 4 victories and both have the most playoff victories for a quaterback/head coach. Brady's stellar offensive performance which saw him complete 37 of 50 passing attempts for 4 touchdowns and 328 yards earned him his 3rd Super Bowl MVP award leaving him tied with his childhood hero Joe Montana. In the game he surpassed another one of his idols old records as Brady ended the game with 13 Super Bowl touchdowns with the record previously standing at 11. Many now, including myself personally, consider Brady to be the greatest quarterback of all-time now that he is tied with Super Bowl wins on 4 with Montana and Terry Bradshaw and the fact that when you total up all the records Tom has and all the success he has achieved with Bill Belichick and the Patriots it is clear to see why he has a very strong case for greatest of all-time.

The Brady and Peyton Manning debate for greatest of an era is now over as Brady as 4 Super Bowl rings to Peyton's one. I'm not taking anything away from Peyton but Tom has all the postseason records whilst Peyton has all the regular season ones. Tom has played with only 9 pro bowl wide receivers to Manning's 27 and yet Brady is the one with 4 Super Bowl championships. Of course it is a team effort and the fact that this Pats team had so much determination as well as skill to capture this championship helped Brady but in the NFL the quarterback always seems to get too much of the praise or too much of the blame which is why we have so many debates about QB's and all in all who is the best ever. The greatest of all time debate will be even more heated than ever unless Brady and Belichick can win a 5th championship then that would kill any argument from anyone ever.

But for anyone associated with the Patriots whether that be the players, the coaches, anyone linked directly with the franchise or anyone in the fanbase from across the globe the debates can wait because the Super Bowl is coming back to Foxborough, Massachusetts. The Patriots are 4 times Super Bowl Champions and have established themselves as the greatest dynasty in NFL history. This team showed all the passion, heart, desire, skill and motivation it takes to win an NFL Championship. Tom Brady dethroned a devastating Seattle defense, this offense came up big when it mattered most. The offensive line that stood up strong against a devastating Seattle frontline to play a big part and players like Julian Edelman (some people's MVP choice), Danny Amendola (an unsung hero who came up big this postseason), Brandon LaFell (Brady's comfort blanket and a big contributor) and finally superstar tight end Rob Gronkowski all did their jobs.

I did say if he stayed healthy Gronk would be the difference this season with the result being a Patriots Super Bowl win and that was the case. The Pats offense defeated the legion of boom and the Pats defense came up big all season long to write their own story and establish their own greatness in New England's football folklore. Malcom Butler will be receiving Tom Brady's MVP truck after his game winning play, which I myself did indeed suggest during my celebrations on Sunday night via Twitter, and the likes of Jamie Collins, Dont'a Hightower, Rob Ninkovich, Chandler Jones, Vince Wilfork, Brandon Browner, Devin McCourty, Darrelle Revis among many others all get to wake up feeling on top of the world after becoming champions and deservedly so after they all played fantastic on Sunday. All 53 players on the Patriots roster earned their Super Bowl ring as they all played a part in the team becoming champions, they all did it for themselves personally and they all helped cement Brady and Belichick's legacy which is something all Patriots fans have been wanting since 2007. Everyone associated with the New England Patriots will be smiles from today's parade and throughout the entire off-season before the hard work begins ahead of the 2015 season and their title defense which will begin on the 10th September but until then let us say it one more time... The New England Patriots are Super Bowl Champions!

New England Patriots final 53-man roster projection

The New England Patriots wrapped up their preseason with a solid 28-20 victory over the New York Giants last night. Now the team has to cut its roster to the final 53-man squad by 6pm on Saturday. With the likes of Quentin Sims and George Winn putting in very good performances they have given coach Belichick food for thought. Tim Tebow connected with Sims on two great touchdown plays and despite some bad moments this guy showed nothing keeps him down. Ryan Mallett and Josh Boyce both showed off their skills especially on their 40 yard touchdown play. Michael Buchanan almost all but confirmed his roster spot last night whilst Jake Bequette played well in the preseason finale to show he's not giving up hope of making the team.

Roster Selection:

OFFENSE:

Quarterbacks (3): Tom Brady, Ryan Mallett, Tim Tebow

I'm sticking with the three quarterbacks. The Patriots have only kept 2 QB's on their roster in 3 of the past 4 seasons but Bill Belichick would not have signed Tim Tebow for no reason even if that reason is to develop him as a quarterback under the guidance of himself and Josh McDaniels plus you know we will see Tebow score against the Jets on September 12th and that in itself is a good enough reason to select him. Ryan Mallett will hang around for years to come in New England; you can see he's growing thanks to the franchise and that to get the chance to learn from Tom Brady has been very beneficial to this young man. To have 3 talented quarterbacks in a rarity so for the 2013 season its worth keeping these three around.

Running Backs (4): Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen Leon Washington, LeGarrette Blount

I'm sticking with my four running backs from the last roster projection and here are the reasons why: Stevan Ridley established himself as a top running back and despite some fumbling troubles he is number one on this team. Shane Vereen's speed and ability to play at wide receiver make him a sure pick for coach Belichick due to his versatility plus Vereen seems to have built up a good rapport with Tom Brady. Leon Washington can offer the team something new on special teams and LeGarrette Blount beats out Brandon Bolden as this teams power running back thanks to a more productive preseason; Blount lead the way on the ground with two touchdowns. Bolden has pass catching ability but that's not enough for him to make the cut especially when George Winn did more in one game last night than Bolden has all preseason but sadly for Winn it may be a little to late despite his 54 yards from 14 carries and a score but don't rule this young man out just yet as he could be a surprise choice although regardless of what happens he will make the practice squad.

Wide Receivers (6): Danny Amendola, Aaron Dobson, Josh Boyce, Julian Edelman, Kenbrell Thompkins, Matthew Slater,

Last time I had Jenkins and Jones in my roster projection with seven wideouts for New England but now the consensus seems to be on these 6 guys. Jones was cut a day after my last projection and Jenkings had lacklusture preseason. Their replacement Kenbrell Thompkins had a standout game against Lions where we hauled in 8 catches for 116 yards where he helped showcase his abilities. The undrafted rookie out of Cincinnati  has shown he could lock down the 'X' role in an explosive offense. Along with Josh Boyce and Aaron Dobson these three young talented rookies could all have great years especially as they have Tom Brady throwing to them. Danny Amendola has shown throughout preseason that him and Tom Brady are building a brilliant rapport whilst Julian Edelman will look to build on an impressive 2012 before his injury unfortunately brought his season to an end. Finally Slater earns a spot thanks to his solidness on special teams. Quentin Sims but in a great display against the Giants last night to put himself on Bill Belichick's radar and although it may be too late to make the roster cut you can expect to see him on the practice squad.

Tight Ends (4): Rob Gronkowski, Jake Ballard, Michael Hoomanawanui, Zach Sudfield

Superstar tight-end Rob Gronkowski is a surefire bet. Although he is in a race against time to be fit for week one it would be silly for the Patriots to put him on the PUP list as he'd then be unavailable for 6 weeks. Bill Belichick knows how manage his players and has two very capable tight-ends in the shape of Jake Ballard and Michael Hoomanawanui; both will be hoping to thrive in an explosive offense and both can block as well as help with the run game. With the pair both just 25 years old now is the time to make a name for themselves especially if the wake of a certain former Patriots tight-end's departure who shall not be named. Finally the fourth tight end roster selection will be undrafted rookie from Nevada Zach Sudfield. Sudfield has the size and catching ability to be a very effective offensive weapon, ring any bells, and during preseason he was impressive as he racked up 101 receiving yards from 8 receptions and for one touchdown which came against Tampa Bay in week 2 of preseason.

Offensive Line (8): Nate Solder, Logan Mankins, Sebastian Vollmer, Dan Connolly, Ryan Wendell, Marcus Cannon, Will Svitek, Chris McDonald

Solder, Mankins and Vollmer pick themselves. They are essential to the Patriots offensive line and the same can be said for the likes of Dan Connolly and Ryan Wendell as they offer the stability and consistency required. Markus Zusevics was my pick last time to make the roster but unfortunately an injury has come at a bad time meaning that Will Svitek all but guarantees his roster spot. Svitek has improved over the course of preseason anyway. Marcus Cannon will be around for another year but the 8th spot will seemingly go to Chris McDonald with the rookie out of Michigan State impressing during the offseason and in a sense beating out the likes of Kevin Haslem and Nick McDonald who both departed.


DEFENSE:

Defensive Ends (6): Chandler Jones, Rob Ninkovich, Michael Buchanan, Justin Francis, Jake Bequette, Marcus Benard


Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich were probably the only surefire bets before preseason even began. I'm sticking with Michael Buchanan from my last roster projection especially after a very good performance last night against the Giants. Justin Francis is solid enough to make the cut. Marcus Benard is another player enjoying the ride and his good preseason form gets him a place in the squad whilst Jake Bequette's performance against the Giants last night has done enough in my mind to prove he is capable of being productive for New England.

Defensive Tackles (4): Vince Wilfork, Tommy Kelly, Marcus Forston, Jermaine Cunningham

The Patriots are limited for options at defensive tackle but thankfully the group is led but the outstanding Vince Wilfork. Tommy Kelly helps provide a great 1-2 punch with Big Vince whilst Marcus Forston is good enough to keep around. I have shifted Jermaine Cunningham to defensive tackle after already selecting six defensive end's; Cunningham sneaks on to the roster now that Armond Armstead is out for at least 6 weeks and with Cory Grissom being placed on season-ending IR it makes sense to select Cunningham for the 53-man roster.

Linebackers (5): Jerod Mayo, Brandon Spikes, Dont'a Hightower, Jamie Collins, Dane Fletcher

I'm sticking with the same 5 linebackers as they all have unique talents and will all be beneficial to the Patriots. Jerod Mayo is a defensive leader and crucial to any success New England will have on defense. Dont'a Hightower will look to improve on a good rookie season in 2012. Brandon Spikes seems to improve year by year and will look to do the same in 2013. As for Dane Fletcher and Jamie Collins well you can expect the two to get plenty reps on special teams. Collins will be looking to show off his potential whenever he has the chance as the second round pick out of Southern Miss is a player that the Patriots have high hopes for.

Cornerbacks (5): Aqib Talib, Kyle Arrington, Marquice Cole, Logan Ryan, Alfonzo Dennard


Marquice Cole in for Ras-I Dowling is my one change at the cornerback position. Cole is all but in unless the Patriots bring another body in. Logan Ryan's development will continue while the likes of Dennard and Arrington are given another year to try and prove themselves. The Patriots need results in the secondary so they will be hoping someone can step up and help take the pressure off of Aqib Talib who will be looking to lead the group with some stellar performances. Talib came up big for New England during the second half of last season and now is his chance to prove himself as one of the best shutdown corners in the league.

Safety (5): Devin McCourty, Adrian Wilson, Tavon Wilson, Duron Harmon, Steve Gregory

Last time round I had the young Nate Ebner in but sadly I think he will miss out come cut day tomorrow. Although he can offer help on special teams the Patriots already have enough of that so they will rely on the likes of Steve Gregory and Devin McCourty to offer them stability as well as reliability at the position as the groups production increases. The likes of Tavon Wilson and Duron Harmon may be young but their talent will offer the Patriots something different. Adrian Wilson has rumours around him regarding being cut after a lackluster preseason but I think the veteran will get one last chance. The Patriots were hoping he would offer them the defensive leadership they have lacked and craved since the early 2000 dynasty but right now it appears Wilson may have lost a step but hopefully come the regular season Adrian Wilson will start to show his class.


Special Teams (3): Steve Gostkowski, Zoltan Mesko, Danny Aiken

Gostkowski will be looking to bounce back after a rocky 2012. Zoltan Mesko was given a good run by rookie punter Ryan Allen but as Mesko is one of the best punters in the league he will retain his job. Danny Aiken keeps his job as long snapper.

 

New England Patriots 53 man roster projection

With the preseason games just around the corner many members of the New England Patriots team will be hoping to prove themselves on the field ahead of the regular season in hope of a spot on the roster for the start of the 2013 campaign. The Patriots have a lot of competition at various positions on both sides of the ball so it will be interesting to see who makes the final roster; let us take a look at my stab at predicting the 53 man roster come September with the following projection:

I choose you!

OFFENSE:

Quarterback: Tom Brady, Ryan Mallett, Tim Tebow (3)

Despite the extra roster spot when having just two QB's on the team being especially valuable to the Patriots in recent years I think Tim Tebow earns a spot on the team come crunch time. Obviously Tom Brady is a dead certainty as the future hall of famer looks to guide his team to their 4th Super Bowl Championship and with the Ryan Mallett to Cleveland trade rumours now all but gone he will definitely be on the squad too but whether Tebow makes it is a question everyone will have an opinion on.

Personally I think that although we know Tebow won't be taking any snaps away from Brady his versatility will be the decisive factor in Belichick selecting him as New England can try to use him in various scenarios. Belichick would not have signed the former Florida man as a publicity stunt and after he spends a year with Brady and McDaniels they can assess his skill-set throughout the season giving the franchise the ability to assess the situation properly next year.

Running back: Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen, Leon Washington, LeGarrette Blount (4)

Ridley is a guaranteed selection after his production last season and after lining up at wide receiver in training recently Shane Vereen will make the team as he offers the team versatility which is what Belichick loves. Leon Washington can offer New England something different at the special teams and arguably something they have lacked in recent seasons especially in the shape of a kick-off returner so it's worth him being chosen for the squad.

The three mentioned already are the sure fire bets but the 4th spot came down to either LeGarrette Blount or Brandon Bolden; Bolden has had recent injury problems and while the potential is there Blount is only 26 so despite being 3 years older than Bolden he has the advantage as he is reaching his physical prime as well as the fact that that he's been making some nice plays in training camp so far so my bet is that Blount beats out Bolden for the 4th running back spot.

Wide Receiver: Danny Amendola, Julian Edelman, Aaron Dobson, Josh Boyce, Donald Jones, Michael Jenkins, Matthew Slater (7)

The battle to be a receiver on the New England Patriots' team this season is the most intriguing and the productivity of this year's receiving corps will be crucial in determining any success the Patriots have in 2013. Dobson and Boyce both have the potential to be valuable for New England but obviously with it both being their rookie year in the league predicting any success for either remains a mystery but nevertheless both make the roster and will hope to improve before the start of the season. Danny Amendola has built up a good rapport with Tom Brady so far and any fan of the Patriots will be excited to see how the two link up when the season starts as well as how their on the field relationship progresses during the campaign. Amendola has the talent to become a star and now that he has Tom Brady throwing to him I believe this will happen; we saw the same happen with Julian Edelman last season before his injury and remember he did start the 2012 season ahead of Wes Welker. With that being said it is safe to say that Edelman makes the roster with his versatility being a key asset to the Patriots at this moment in time.

With Aaron Hernandez now off the roster the next 3 wide receiving slots are as crucial as ever with the offense needing as many valuable weapons as possible. The current receiving core is drawing comparisons to a depth chart that included the likes of Jabar Gaffney yet still made the Super Bowl but as we know Tom Brady can make anyone produce the goods due to the fact that he is arguably the greatest quarterback ever with this being one of the arguments why. Matthew Slater's familiarity earns him a spot on the roster while Jenkins and Jones may well battle it out for the final receiving spot on the roster if Belichick decides to go with 6 wideouts which could very well happen but for now I'll say that both make the team as Jenkins is a reliable veteran option whereas Jones has some decent statistics from his time in Buffalo, most coming against the Patriots, and could therefore prove to be a surprisingly good acquisition once the season progresses.

Jenkins is in and Donald Jones is out. This could very well change before the season starts, but for now, the healthy player who has been hooking up with Brady has a better shot than Jones, who missed time during minicamp.

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Jenkins is in and Donald Jones is out. This could very well change before the season starts, but for now, the healthy player who has been hooking up with Brady has a better shot than Jones, who missed time during minicamp.

Read more at: http://nesn.com/2013/06/tim-tebow-julian-edelman-among-tough-cuts-in-patriots-53-man-roster-projection

Tight End: Rob Gronkowski, Jake Ballard, Michael Hoomanawanui, Zach Sudfield (4)

Rob Gronkowski is in a race against time to be ready for the start of the season and following the Aaron Hernandez saga the Patriots are facing the possibility of going from having two superstar tight-ends to none for week 1 of the 2013 season. Gronkowski will be ready to cause havoc on opposing defenses eventually but in the event of his absence during the start of the season the likes of Jake Ballard and Michael Hoomanawanui will get the chance to try and make an impact for the team during the teams early games.

It's safe to safe after Hernandez being cut from the team that Ballard and Hoomanawanui make the roster; the fourth tight end spot goes to the 6'7 man out of Nevada Zach Sudfeld who signed as an undrafted free agent on in May and has the potential to be a possible diamond in the rough for Bill Belichick. All three will have the responsibility of trying to produce the goods now that Aaron Hernandez has been cut but as long as Rob Gronkowski gets back to full health the Patriots know they have a superstar they can rely on as well as having Tom Brady's most valuable weapon at their disposal.

Offensive Line: Nate Solder, Logan Mankins, Sebastian Vollmer, Dan Connolly, Ryan Wendell, Nick McDonald, Marcus Cannon, Kevin Haslam, Markus Zusevics (9)

The likes of Solder, Mankins and Vollmer are all valuable assets to this team. Dan Connolly has improved season by season and Ryan Wendell will line up at centre again with Nick McDonald providing cover at that position as well as chipping in at guard. The offensive line needs familiarity that's why there aren't many changes from last year with the likes of Marcus Cannon also making the cut but this year Kevin Haslam and Markus Zusevic will get a chance to show what they can do.

Svitek was on my list but when you realise that this Patriots team is full of young faces it makes sense that they would choose a 5 year younger player in the shape of Haslam over Svitek plus Haslam came out of Rutgers and we all know how their connection runs deep. Zusevics makes the cut thanks to his versatility as the second year man his 2012 experience with the team under his belt and can offer cover at tackle and guard positions.


DEFENSE:

Defensive End: Chandler Jones, Rob Ninkovich, Justin Francis, Jermaine Cunningham, Michael Buchanan (5)

Chandler Jones is the surefire bet at this position; he will look to build on an impressive rookie season as his raw talent proved to be a valuable asset during the 2012 season. Coming in to his sophomore year Jones will be looking to make a bigger leap by continuing to assert himself as one of the NFL's best young ends. His ability to rush the passer will improve and if his production continues at a high rate he could help the Patriot's defense get back to what it was during its Super Bowl winnings years. Rob Ninkovich will want to continue his good form and increase in production. Jermaine Cunningham may well have a shot at the versatility role while Justin Francis also gets in based on versatility. Cunningham gets in thanks to former Rutgers man Francis moving inside; the two seem to have both improved from 2012 and if they are determined to succeed it will earn them a roster spot.

I've projected 5 players at this position and it was hard to leave Jake Bequette and Jason Vega out but both just give me the impression that they'll fall short which leaves the door open for 2013 draftee Michael Buchanan who I believe could be a real steal for New England. The 7th round pick's stock in the draft fell due to character concerns but the 6'5, 255 pound defensive end is athletic and has shown signs of potential that could prove valuable especially as he possesses the ability to fit in to either a 3-4 or 4-3 defense thanks to the fact that his strength helps him in the pass rush as well as against opposing offensive linemen.

Jake Bequette

Read more at: http://nesn.com/2013/06/tim-tebow-julian-edelman-among-tough-cuts-in-patriots-53-man-roster-projection/

Jake Bequette

Read more at: http://nesn.com/2013/06/tim-tebow-julian-edelman-among-tough-cuts-in-patriots-53-man-roster-projection/

Jake Bequette

Read more at: http://nesn.com/2013/06/tim-tebow-julian-edelman-among-tough-cuts-in-patriots-53-man-roster-projection/

Defensive Tackle: Vince Wilfork, Tommy Kelly, Armond Armstead (3)

With Vince Wilfork being the lone survivor on defense from the Patriots' last Super Bowl winning team we know that he is pretty much as valuable to New England's defense as Tom Brady is to its offense! This year I see him teaming up with just two out and out tackles in the shape of Kelly and Armstead; the two's productivity will go a long way to determining the success of the Patriots' passing defense in 2013.

Marcus Forston could well make the roster but having Justin Francis move inside along with Cunningham able to play inside means that the Patriots are allowed to go thinner at the defensive tackle position in 2013. If the ends and tackles step up like it seems they can then they can go a long way to helping the Patriots rack up a respectable position among defensive rankings this season and in the long run the production of these guys will go a long way in to determining any success they have come playoff time.

Linebacker: Jerod Mayo, Brandon Spikes, Don’t’a Hightower, Jamie Collins, Dane Fletcher (5)

The linebackers all but pick themselves for the Patriots this season. Jerod Mayo is a key player on this team and Brandon Spikes continues to improve making him a must for New England. Don'ta Hightower is coming in to his second season in the league on a high following a very productive debut year in 2012. The team will hope for something similar from Jamie Collins with the 2nd round pick out of Southern Miss showing he could make a huge difference on the team's defense this year; his explosiveness, athleticism and versatility means he can play multiple positions for the Patriots and as we know as well as something that has been mentioned many times previously... Bill Belichick loves versatility.

Dane Fletcher may not be as versatile or athletic as any of the previous four linebackers mentioned but he is reliable and a good player to keep on the roster. The fact that new signing Adrian Wilson can also play linebacker means that five linebacker selections is fine for New England which is bad news for the likes of Beauharnais as it seems that he'll be deemed surplus to requirements and not make the cut. Like I said these five pretty much pick themselves and it will extremely interesting to see how the likes of Mayo, Spikes, Collins and Hightower play together as well as end Chandler Jones with the prospect of this year's defense wreaking havoc on opposing QB's being quite likely if all goes to plan.

Cornerback: Aqib Talib, Kyle Arrington, Ras-I Dowling, Logan Ryan, Alfonzo Dennard (5)

Like the linebacker position I believe that the corners pick themselves. Aqib Talib will look to prove himself again after showing how valuable he can be to this Patriot's secondary during the second half of the 2012 season. The shutdown corner has the ability to go up against any of the top wideouts in the game and after opting to sign just a one year extension with New England in a way it shows that Talib is set on proving himself being committing to a long term deal. We all know Dowling has talent but will injuries haunt him again? Well that remains to be seen; if they don't we will see how productive he can be but if the plague continues the Patriots will need to bring in someone else.

Third round pick of out Rutgers Logan Ryan was one of the most talented players at his position in this years draft and could be another steal for New England in the long run. Kyle Arrington makes the team for another season but Alfonzo Dennard has questions over his head following his recent arrest. If he stays he will look to improve from 2012 but for now if something happens to him or Dowling you can expect the Patriots to add at this position.

Aqib Talib, Alfonzo Dennard, Kyle Arrington, Logan Ryan, Ras-I Dowling

Read more at: http://nesn.com/2013/06/tim-tebow-julian-edelman-among-tough-cuts-in-patriots-53-man-roster-projection/

Aqib Talib, Alfonzo Dennard, Kyle Arrington, Logan Ryan, Ras-I Dowling

Read more at: http://nesn.com/2013/06/tim-tebow-julian-edelman-among-tough-cuts-in-patriots-53-man-roster-projection/

Aqib Talib, Alfonzo Dennard, Kyle Arrington, Logan Ryan, Ras-I Dowling

Read more at: http://nesn.com/2013/06/tim-tebow-julian-edelman-among-tough-cuts-in-patriots-53-man-roster-projection/

Safety: Adrian Wilson, Devin McCourty, Tavon Wilson, Nate Ebner, Duron Harmon (5)

Duron Harmon was selected by the Patriots as the 91st pick from the NFL 2013 Draft... From yes you guessed it Rutgers! For someone not many people had heard of Harmon seems to be good value for a third round selection and will have a chance to prove himself in 2013. Adrian Wilson has been signed from Arizona will Bill Belichick hoping he has the same effect as Rodney Harrison did. If so the Adrian Wilson signing could well inspire a Super Bowl win as they need a talented and experienced leader to be the rock of this group to help improve their woes in the secondary. Adrian Wilson's namesake Tavon doesn't have much hype around him but the second year safety has the chance to learn from Adrian and improve his game.


Devin McCourty did very well in his transition to safety and it is clear to see he is better suited to the position but now New England will hope he can build on the 2012 season by producing the goods in 2013. It wouldn't be right if I didn't go for one risky selection throughout this projection and it will be in the shape of Nate Ebner as I think he has the potential to beat out Steve Gregory but in reality that maybe is a bit of a longshot.

Special Teams: Steve Gostkowski, Zoltan Mesko, Danny Aiken (3)

Rookie punter Ryan Allen has given Mesko a run for his money up until now but with Mesko being a very reliable punter as well as arguably one of the best in the league he will make the team. Gotskowski had a challenger brought in as well but despite a rocky 2012 he has the ability to bounce back in 2013. Danny Aiken continues his role as long snapper.

Cunningham’s ability to play on the interior allows the Patriots to go thinner at defensive tackle. Kelly and Armstead should give the pass rush a significant boost, all which could make Forston a goner.

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After seeing some of what the Patriots were running in OTAs and minicamp, it makes sense to keep Cunningham over Jake Bequette, who I had making the team before. Cunningham looks bigger this offseason, which means he could serve a very versatile role. Hughes: Jones, Ninkovich, Buchanan, Cunningham, Francis, Jake Bequette (6) It may seem there’s a bit of an overload at defensive end, but the versatility of Cunning ham and Francis to move inside makes that decision easier. Bequette was one of the final few in, just barely eking out CFL-exile Jason Vega. Ninkovich has been mentoring Bequette throughout the offseason and I think that makes the difference.

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OFFENSIVE LINE

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Houston you have a problem: Tom Brady

Tom Brady and the New England Patriots torched the Houston Texans in a 28 point blowout win at Gillette Stadium. With the Patriots wrapping up the AFC East last week they have now set their sights on the top spot in the conference with the win taking them to a 10-3 record and leaving the Texans at 11-2 following this defeat.

In a game that was hyped up to be a potential preview of a future AFC Championship game only one side rose to the occasion and it was no surprise that it was the Patriots who got the win when you consider their recent record on Monday Night Football. Ahead of the game they were 10-1 in the team's last 11 games scoring 33.1 points per game and only giving up 16.2 points per games.

The Patriots also averaged 396.7 yards per game in their last 11 on Monday Night Football and last night they racked up plenty of yardage too; 419 yards in total. They were 50% on 3rd down completing 6 out of 12 attempts and had 17 first downs in the whole game; overall it's safe to say that the offense was efficient and definitely at its best last night.

Tom Brady himself put on another amazing performance as he continues to be a frontrunner for league MVP. Thanks to his four touchdown passes New England raced out of the blocks and destroyed Houston. He completed 21 out of 35 passing attempts for 296 yards including the four passing touchdowns.

Brady's 2012-2013 season continues to be out of this world. He has now thrown for 3833 passing yards in the team's 13 games. He has only turned the ball over 4 times and has thrown 32 touchdown passes leaving him with a Quarterback rating of 104.2. Finally a passing score in the team's next 3 games means Brady will overtake Johnny Unitas in second place for throwing a touchdown pass in consecutive games giving him a shot at Drew Brees' record next season.

With the win Brady and the Patriots continued their crazy second half of the season record which now stands at 21-0 since the 2010 season. The win over the Texans was their seventh straight victory meaning that they are now just a game behind Houston in the race for the first seed with them still having to play their divisional rivals the Colts twice in the next 3 games.

It has been mentioned many times before but the Patriots offense really is beautiful to watch even without the likes of Rob Gronkowski. They get it done whenever it matters and change it up game by game to combat against any type of defense. This week the no huddle offense and play action passing worked to perfection and on Brady's 37 yard touchdown pass to Bradon Lloyd late in the first quarter Tom Brady should win an Oscar for how well he faked the handoff to the running back.

That touchdown came around 6 and a half minutes after the early touchdown pass to Aaron Hernandez from 7 yards out meaning that the Patriots ended the first quarter 7-0 ahead. Brady hit Hernandez again, this time  four minutes in to the second quarter, on a quick slant to his left with the tight end open giving him an easy passage in to the end zone.

At halftime the Patriots were in the lead by a score of 21-0 and any hopes of a Houston comeback were dashed when Brady connected on a spectacular 63 yard deep pass to Donte' Stallworth who announced his comeback to New England in style. Arian Foster got the Texans on the board from a yard out leaving the score at 28-7 going in to the final quarter.

Bradon Lloyd recovered a Danny Woodhead fumble in the end zone giving the Patriots another touchdown early in the fourth and Stevan Ridley ran 14 yards for a score mid-way through the quarter; he had another very productive day rushing for 72 yards from 18 carries and showed why he is one of best young running backs in the NFL.

The Texans got a consolation touchdown late on but it finished with New England winning in style. It was supposed to be close but the Patriots showed why they may be the best team in the league by declaring their dominance. The defense is looking great too with the secondary again putting in another impressive display with the likes of McCourty, Talib and Dennard all stepping up to the plate. Vince Wilfork seems to be everywhere up front and this defense can cause problems for anyone.

On offense they took one of the league's best defense's to town and swatted away the NFL's best pass rusher J.J. Watt despite his best efforts. Now New England will look ahead to another big home game when they take on the league's most talented defense in the form of the San Francisco 49ers. It will be a different type of test for the Patriots on both sides of the ball. On offense they'll have to either deal with Colin Kaepernick or Alex Smith at quarterback, on defense they will face a unit that can pretty much get anything done.

It will be very close and will be a tougher test than this week but with Tom Brady at Quarterback and this team on the roll expect New England to continue their run of form by asserting themselves on both sides of the ball. If they can knock off another heavyweight team ahead of the playoffs this Patriots team could really gather the serious momentum needed by anyone ahead of the post-season. Based on what this team is doing it is safe to say that New England really does have the talent to go on and get to the Super Bowl in New Orleans and dare I say it win Super Bowl 47.