According to some football analytic sites, the New England Patriots have one of the toughest schedules in the NFL this year. The grueling start and finish to their 2023 schedule will truly test Belichick and company.
On Wednesday’s Zolak & Bertrand radio program—Zolak, Hardy and former Patriot Ted Johnson break down New England’s slate of games this year.
Parts of conversation abbreviated for clarity.
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 24: Mac Jones #10 of the New England Patriots reacts on the sideline during the second half against the Chicago Bears at Gillette Stadium on October 24, 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Hardy: Ben in Malden is on the phone. Hello, Ben!
Ben in Malden: Hey, Hardy! Thanks for taking my call. Ted brought up an interesting point the other day on ‘Felger & Mazz,’ the Patriots always start the season off slow. That’s why I would have them at under six and a half wins. Honestly, that schedule is brutal.
Hardy: Okay. Interesting. Let’s look at this now. Zo, you’ve said two wins out of the first four games for the Patriots.
Zolak: Well, they must win two out of the first four games.
Ted Johnson: Yeah, I think you’re right, Zo.
Hardy: Historically, we would consider that a slow start for a Brady-lead Patriots team. That would be a good start for this year’s team if they can split the first four games. Is that fair? That’d be a good start.
Ted Johnson: I’d actually be satisfied with a 2-2 start.
Hardy: Okay, let’s keep our peepers peeled on the schedule here for a second. Let’s say they start a little slower than that and end up 1-3 out of those first four games.
Zolak: You’ve got to get one against the division. It has to be against the Dolphins or the Jets.
Hardy: And, right after, you’ve got Saints and Raiders. And I think those are winnable games, both of them. Then, the problem is that you’ve got Bills at home and Dolphins at Miami.
Zolak: I think they have more winnable games in the middle of the schedule than people think.
Hardy: Commanders and Colts back-to-back?
Zolak: A bye week and then the Giants. You’ve got Chargers at home.
FLORHAM PARK, NEW JERSEY – APRIL 26: New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers poses with a jersey during an introductory press conference at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center on April 26, 2023 in Florham Park, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Hardy: The end of the season bothers me with the Patriots this year. It’s the Chiefs, then you’re at Broncos, at Buffalo, and then you’ve got the Jets to finish things off. That last four-game stretch, yikes.
Ted Johnson: Let’s face it, if the Jets didn’t have Aaron Rodgers, you’d look at that game as a win.
This season might be the hardest start and finish to their schedule. The middle is soft. You can get fat and happy on those teams in the middle. But it’s going to be a more difficult start and more difficult ending in your schedule this year than it’s been in the last few.
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