5 NFL teams who might be regression candidates for 2020 season

By John Buhler | Apr 7, 2020

KANSAS CITY, MO - JANUARY 19: Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid displays the Lamar Hunt to the fans in victorious fashion after the AFC Championship game between the Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday January 19, 2020 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Nick Tre. Smith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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Bill Belichick, New England Patriots. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

1. player. 47. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. AFC. East. New England Patriots

You knew the New England Patriots would be the No. 1 regression candidate in football this year. They don’t have Tom Brady anymore, meaning the dynasty is over. It’s time for Bill Belichick to rebuild this franchise they way he sees fit. If it means seeing if Jarrett Stidham can be a NFL starting quarterback, so be it. Belichick has built up enough equity to do whatever he wants.

And it’s not just losing Brady that hurts the Patriots. Key free agents like Kyle Van Noy and Jamie Collins signed elsewhere. They also cut their star kicker Stephen Gostkowski. On football culture alone, maybe the Patriots can hover around .500? However, that may not be enough to win the AFC East again, as the Buffalo Bills look to be the new favorites in the division entering 2020.

Frankly, the Patriots already regressed in 2019. They didn’t have a first-round bye and it was costly. New England lost on Wild Card Weekend at home to Mike Vrabel‘s Tennessee Titans. It was the last game Brady will ever play for the Patriots. By parting ways with The GOAT, there is no way the Patriots aren’t worse next season. It would be remarkable if they won multiple playoff games.

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Overall, New England will still play hard, but will do so at a talent deficiency. That’s not to say they’ll tank, but it wouldn’t surprise anyone if they position themselves to draft Brady’s successor in the 2021 NFL Draft. The Patriots could have the draft equity to move up and take either Trevor Lawrence or Justin Fields next spring if that’s the direction the franchise wants to go in.

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