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I dont think the game against the niners is a sure loss. Same thing for baltimore, the eagles just took them to the brink why couldn't the Pats.
Maybe I worded it too strongly still I see very small probabilities for NE to win those games, why? NE has changed their style of winning games, during the most recent years except the last NE won games by Brady using dink and donk as they call it, special teams that made few mistakes and won good field position and a defence that was top 10 or even top 5 when it came to points allowed, and if things went awfully wrong NE could always rely on Brady to try to save the day.
However since last year things changed, the defence became the most important unit and Brady became a game manager, due to injuries running the ball was difficult if not impossible and Brady had to pass all the time, the problem? WRs could not get separation, things were so bad that if I remember correctly not a single NE’s WR was among the top 100 on that stat, so Brady had to get rid of the ball a lot, this gave the impression his game had decreased even more than what actually has, Brady knew he had to be very careful with the football otherwise NE will not have the opportunity to make a comeback and as a result Brady was intercepted only 8 times.
But what about this season? NE has always depended on out-preparing their opponents but due to the covid19 pandemic there was no preseason, benefiting those with more raw talent, then many cases were discovered among the team and they lost their BYE without any chance to improve the team in the process, as of right now due to different circumstances NE has 23 players on the injury report and they have two 6th round rookies as starters on the OL making more difficult to get any kind of running game going on.
So far NE is trying that the defence keeps them in the game, establish the running game and once NE do this they can more easily activate their passing game, NE offence ranks 5th in rushing game but NE ranks last on the passing game and 25th at scoring offence, Cam has been intercepted 4 times which is not bad but he is bound to be intercepted more than Brady at the end of the season despite WRs gaining way more separation this year.
All in all I just do not picture a way for them to win those two games but most likely that is why I am just a fan and not coaching the team, I hope I am wrong after all more than anything fans want to see their favourite team win.