The Seahawks look to move to 2-0 on the season against the Patriots on Sunday.
The Seahawks are 1-0 on the 2020 season. But so are the Patriots. These two teams have played three times since Russell Wilson became the Seahawks quarterback in 2012 and Seattle is 2-1 in those games (yeah, 12s all know that should be 3-0). But lots has changed since the last time these two played in 2016.
Gone from the Patriots is Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski. The Seahawks no longer have Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor. Yet both teams are still good. To find out who is better so far this year, the Seahawks and Patriots will play in week two.
To get more information on the 2020 version of the Patriots and five things every 12 should know about New England, I asked five questions to Adam Weinrib of FanSided’s Patriots site, Musket Fire.
Thing to know number 5
12th Man Rising: As much as I don’t want you to have to address it for the millionth time, the subject is still important. What is it like for Patriots fans not to have Tom Brady at quarterback and why did the Patriots and Brady part?
Adam Weinrib: It’s still entirely bizarre that Tom Brady isn’t under center for this team, but it seems there’s also a bit of relief for all involved. Bill Belichick said it himself this week — for two decades, he’s woken up (probably at, like, 4 am), gone to work, and schemed for Tom Brady and Tom Brady alone.
It’s got to be a little refreshing to have an entirely different skill set at your disposal after winning repeated accolades for doing the same thing ad infinitum. He’s going to win games in a different fashion this year, and probably won’t be wrapping up nearly as many blowout victories by the end of the second quarter, but Cam Newton proved he can be an effective caretaker in Week 1.
If the person under center is winning, Pats Nation will forgive them quickly — and you’ve already seen the Boston media release their frustrations with Tom Brady now that it’s alright to criticize him again. We’ll miss him. He’s a legend. But there’s still another six-time champion roaming the sidelines.
Cam Newton
12th Man Rising: Cam Newton was very good in his Patriots debut. Is he a one-year rental and how good do you think he can be this season?
Adam Weinrib: It is very, very easy to get swayed by Newton’s impressive play and swagger, but I think the Patriots are going to wait a little bit longer before deciding whether or not to pay him. It’s clear, though, from Week 1 (in case it wasn’t already) that this team, with Newton and the impressive defense, is far too good to tank. That means that next season’s QB options will be from the free-agent pool once again.
Thus far, Belichick has made it very clear publicly that he’s in love with Newton’s work ethic and mentality, quashing all concerns that he wouldn’t “fit” here, which was nonsensical from the start. I’ve said since the signing that I believed Newton’s Pats ceiling was his 2017 season and not his MVP campaign and that’s still…really great! He was relied upon to run in Week 1 more than he ever has before and exerted methodical control over the offense. It might not always look as flashy in New England as it once did, but time and time again, it worked on Sunday.
I think that’ll be the MO moving forward, and if the team keeps rattling off wins and making it feel like the past two decades of dominance are effortlessly continuing, Belichick and Co. will likely reward Newton with some long-term security. There’s a reason Jarrett Stidham was the third-stringer last week.
Bill Belichick and his greatness
Quick note from a 12: Bill Belichick is a great coach, no doubt. But the Seahawks are lucky to have a great coach of their own in Pete Carroll.
12th Man Rising: Coach Bill Belichick is likely the greatest coach in NFL history. What are a few things that set him apart?
Adam Weinrib: Bill Belichick prepares like no one else, maximizes the skills of every single player on his roster, and accounts for 35 blips in the radar per week that nobody else looks out for. Is he an outward motivator? You’d never know it, but clearly, the answer is yes! Everybody in the locker room and organization buys in, and yet none of us have any idea what the message is beyond, “Do Your Job.” That’s always impressed me.
Despite having such a detailed game plan, it’s also not rigid. He vowed to stay away from Julian Edelman in the punt return game in 2020, but on the second series of the game, there he was. Because he was needed. He’ll take away your best player, and bludgeon you with a repetitive offense like a battering ram until, boom, suddenly Edelman is throwing a downfield pass. The genius of Belichick comes in many layers.
What Seahawks might worry the Patriots
12th Man Rising: If you are the Patriots, what are two or three of your biggest concerns going up against the Seahawks?
Adam Weinrib: The first is definitely Russell Wilson. He’s a top-three quarterback in the game and is nearly impossible to contain. It’s clear the shortened offseason didn’t hurt him, either. He was 31-of-35 for 322 yards and 4 touchdowns in Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons. He also led the team in rushing yards, though he only had 29. Remember him in Foxborough back in 2016? He mowed down the Patriots in a 31-24 win, throwing for 348 yards and 3 touchdowns. While this Seahawks roster is much different, Wilson has remained a constant and steady force, killing teams with his accuracy, legs and impeccable decision-making.
And speaking of the roster…Jamal Adams is now a Seahawk. The former New York Jet has 42 tackles, 5 passes defended, 1 interception and 1 touchdown in six career games vs the Patriots and he’ll bring his intel to Seattle as the Seahawks prepare this week. After that blockbuster trade with New York, the Hawks now boast two of the best playmakers in the game with Wilson and Adams.
On top of that, the Patriots are in a tough situation with a lack of continuity, seeing so many players leave via free agency before being hit with eight opt-outs. When the Seahawks are rolling, they’re a well-oiled machine, so if the Patriots can’t contain them early and keep the big plays at bay, it’ll be hard for Cam Newton, who’s still learning the system to stage a significant comeback on the road.
Hopes for the Patriots in 2020
(Note: Once again I would like to thank Adam Weinrib of Musket Fire for answering some questions about the Seahawks and Patriots matchup on Sunday.)
12th Man Rising: What are your hopes for the Patriots in 2020? How good can they be and can they win the Super Bowl (again)?
Adam Weinrib: Don’t forget, the Patriots statistically have the hardest schedule in the NFL. After years of the world complaining about their annual cakewalks, the Pats haters have gotten what they wanted: roster turmoil and a 2020 slate that features the Seahawks, 49ers, Chiefs, Rams, Ravens, Texans and Bills (twice). Not good!
An overly optimistic expectation for New England would be a division title and a trip to the AFC Championship Game. That would mean the Pats need to win at least 10 games since the Bills have a gauntlet of a schedule of their own (Rams, Titans, Chiefs, 49ers, Seahawks, Steelers). If Newton and Belichick can get the job done in all of their winnable games, they’ll be in a really good position to get a favorable matchup in the first round of the playoffs and take it from there.
Sadly, I don’t think this edition of the Patriots can win the Super Bowl unless a string of unforeseen injuries were to occur and pave the way. The Chiefs are simply too good and experienced almost no roster turnover. The Ravens are out for blood after blowing it to the Titans in the playoffs last year. The Steelers appear to be back. You’ll probably have to beat two out of those three teams in order to get to the SB.
The Patriots are undergoing a transformation on offense: they don’t have their starting right tackle and are without a competent receiving corps. The defense will always be good, but it doesn’t look like it’ll be its usual dominant self following the losses of Kyle Van Noy, Jamie Collins, Patrick Chung, Dont’a Hightower, and others. We’re looking at a fun year for the Patriots for sure, but fans would be sadly mistaken if they’re expecting a title at the end of this one.