Patriots Daily
Patriots Daily: The 2024 NFL Regular Season is Almost Here
All of the college football games being played over the weekend means NFL games can’t be far behind. The NFL Kickoff Game takes place in three days, with the Kansas City Chiefs opening their Super Bowl defense by hosting the Baltimore Ravens. The New England Patriots start their 2024 campaign in six days, hitting the road to play the Cincinnati Bengals.
As the NFL’s opening week progresses, there will be plenty of coverage from Patriots Football Now. Upcoming features this week include predictions for the NFL season, an in-depth outlook on what to expect from the New England Patriots, award predictions, initial 2024 NFL Power Rankings, and a Patriots-Bengals preview. And of course, there will be continued coverage of all news and transactions in New England and throughout the league.
The idea of the Patriots competing for a title this season seems like a long shot. But 24 years ago, there was a rookie sixth-round pick in New England named Tom Brady. The probability of him going on to win seven Super Bowls and become the greatest player in NFL history was far less than the Patriots having a Cinderella season in 2024. It’s why they play the games. And since no games have been played on the 2024 schedule yet, all NFL teams and their fans should still have hope. It’s the beauty of Week 1, which has finally arrived.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady after Super Bowl 49 football game Monday, Feb. 2, 2015, in Phoenix, Ariz. The Patriots beat the Seattle Seahawks 28-24. Brady was named Super Bowl MVP. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Also in Monday’s Patriots Daily:
Patriots Fact of the Day
The last regular season game played by the New England Patriots without Bill Belichick as their head coach was on Jan. 2, 2000, against the Baltimore Ravens. Pete Carroll’s Patriots prevailed 20-3 to finish the season 8-8. New England’s two touchdowns were scored by Mike Bartrum (1-yard pass from Drew Bledsoe) and Chad Eaton (23-yard fumble return). Eaton registered the final touchdown of the pre-Belichick years. Lawyer Milloy recorded a sack and an interception for the defense.
Post of the Day
I received a text last night asking where I thought USC wide receiver Kyron Hudson would go in the NFL Draft. Hudson had only 19 receptions for 193 yards over the past two seasons for the Trojans. On Sunday night against LSU he got everyone’s attention:
We don’t care if it’s only Game 1.
Catch of the year from @uscfb’s @kyron___hudson!
📺 ABC
— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) September 2, 2024
Patriots Football Now Coverage
ESPN Picks Vederian Lowe as New England’s Biggest X Factor – ESPN chose Lowe as the Patriots player who could most lead to a surprising outcome for the team in 2024 based on his performance. But they didn’t follow their own parameters to make the pick for the Patriots. Instead, it insulted Jacoby Brissett, Caedan Wallace, and the entire team.
Can Marcus Jones Be Travis Hunter of the NFL?– As college football got underway, Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter got everyone’s attention. Will he try to play both ways in the NFL? Meanwhile, New England has a potential triple-threat in Marcus Jones. Will the new staff let the cornerback/return specialist play offense again in 2024?
Patriots Are Third on Forbes List of Most Valuable NFL Franchises – New England had the No. 3 selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. They are rank No. 3 on Forbes’ annual valuation of NFL franchises. See which two franchises they are behind and how much Robert Kraft’s team is projected to be worth.
More New England Patriots Coverage
Jacoby Brissett’s Journey to Becoming Patriots’ Starting QB (ESPN) – Mike Reiss follows Brissett’s journey from a high school player who developed an unlikely relationship with Bill Parcells to New England’s QB1 in 2024. It details the ups and downs of being a well-traveled player who has started and sat. Brissett credits therapy with helping him on his path.
After Winning Patriots Kicking Job, Joey Slye Celebrates Stability With Baby Due in November (Patriots.com) – Alexandra Francisco writes about the veteran kicker who beat out Chad Ryland in training camp. Slye and his wife are expecting the couple’s first baby this fall. With a growing family, knowing where he will be living is quite a relief.
Patriots Sunday Notes: Rookie Class Plans to “Shock the World” (Pats Pulpit) – Bernd Buchmasser details the high expectations New England’s rookies have for their group. They want to be the Patriots best rookie class ever. See which rookie said the class was, “Eager and ready to shock the world.”
NFL Coverage
If the NFL is a Copycat League, These Schemes Will be Stolen (Yahoo! Sports) – The NFL has always been thought of as a copycat league. Nate Tice does a nice job breaking down some schemes that could find themselves en vogue soon. These include motion blocking, running schemes, reading defenses, and more.
Steelers OC Arthur Smith Downplays Return to Atlanta (Steelers Now) – The Pittsburgh Steelers play the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1. Arthur Smith is Pittsburgh’s offensive coordinator. From 2021 to 2023, Smith was Atlanta’s head coach. But Smith says he’s not concerned with making the season opener into a revenge game.
2025 NFL Draft Player Preview: OT Will Campbell, LSU (PFN+) – Campbell doesn’t stack up to 2024’s top tackle Joe Alt quite yet. Just the same, he is an elite prospect. Campbell is the favorite to be the top offensive tackle taken in next April’s draft. The New England Patriots will certainly be among the teams monitoring him closely between now and then.
Boston Bruins
Boston Hockey Now – The New England Patriots aren’t the only game in town. Check out our sibling site for all the latest Boston Bruins news and analysis. Training camp is quickly approaching as the team looks to raise their first Stanely Cup since 2011.
