Comparing The Patriots 2022 Opponents QB's To The 2023 Opponents QB's
The Patriots finished the 2022 season with a disappointing 8-9 record and fell short of the post-season. Partially, if not fully due to the fact that their offensive coordinator had never called offensive plays before.
But, is there more to it than that? Should we expect a bounce-back season from Mac Jones and the Patriots offense with new offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien back with the team and taking control of that 2022 struggling offense?
Certainly we can expect better offensive production in 2023, but will that be enough to get them back to the post-season?
I'm sure many feel that the team will have much more success now that Matt Patricia has been swapped-out for Bill O'Brien and the offense will be under the control of a guy who actually knows how to run an NFL offense. But will that increased offensive production be enough against what is regarded to be the toughest schedule in the league as we head towards training camp.
Last year's team ran into a few fortunate situations when their opponents had to start back-up QB's due to injuries. The same is certainly possible for the 2023 season, but we can't expect or predict injuries. So, if we run with the idea the 2023 Patriots won't face any back-up QB's, it appears they'll face much tougher offenses.
Here are the QB's they faced last season:
Week-1 @ Dolphins Tua Tagovailou Loss 20-7
Week-2 vs Pittsburgh Mitch Trubisky Win 20-17
Week-3 vs Baltimore Lamar Jackson Loss 37-26
Week-4 @ Green Bay Aaron Rodgers Loss 27-24
Week-5 vs Detroit Jared Goff Win 29-0
Week-6 @ Cleveland Jacoby Brissett Win 38-15
Week-7 vs Chicago Justin Fields Loss 33-14
Week-8 vs NYJ Zach Wilson Win 22-17
Week-9 vs Colts Sam Ehlinger Win 26-3
Week-11 @ NYJ Zach Wilson Win 22-17
Week-12 @ Minnesota Kirk Cousins Loss 33-26
Week-13 vs Buffalo Josh Allen Loss 24-10
Week-14 @ Arizona Colt McCoy Win 27-13
Week-15 @ Las Vegas Derek Carr Loss 30-24
Week-16 vs Cincinnati Joe Burrow Loss 22-18
Week-17 vs Miami Ted Bridgewater Win 23-21
Week-18 @ Buffalo Josh Allen Loss 35-23
In week-9 vs the Colts, Matt Ryan was out with a throwing shoulder injury and the team went with Sam Ehlinger over Nick Foles. Ehlinger struggled and the team posted 3-points in a blowout loss. The Colts were also without RB Jonathan Taylor.
In week-14 Kyler Murray threw one pass and then suffered a knee injury that would force him to miss the rest of the season. Colt McCoy led the Cardinals offense to 13-points and the loss.
In week-17 Tua Tagovailou was out due to a concussion sustained the previous week that would end his season. Teddy Bridgewater posted a 85.6 QB rating after 12 passes and then left the game with an injured finger on his throwing hand. 3rd-stringer Skylar Thompson took over a threw a TD pass late in the 4th-quarer but the Patriots held on for the win.
Compare last season's opposing QB's with the QB's they're scheduled to face this season and it's quite obvious why they are considered to play the toughest schedule in the league.
2023 Projected Opponents Starting Quarterbacks
Week-1 vs Philadelphia Jalen Hurts
Week-2 vs Miami Tua Tagovailou
Week-3 @ NYJ Aaron Rodgers
Week-4 @ Dallas Dak Prescott
Week-5 vs New Orleans Derek Carr
Week-6 @ Las Vegas Jimmy Garoppolo
Week-7 vs Buffalo Josh Allen
Week-8 @ Miami Tua Tagovailou
Week-9 vs Washington Sam Howell
Week-10 vs Indianapolis Gardner Minshew
Week-12 @ NYG Daniel Jones
Week-13 vs Los Angeles Justin Herbert
Week-14 @ Pittsburgh Kenny Pickett
Week-15 vs Kansas City Patrick Mahomes
Week-16 @ Denver Russell Wilson
Week-17 @ Buffalo Josh Allen
Week-18 vs NYJ Aaron Rodgers
There are a few names on that list that won't scare the Patriots defense, like Kenny Pickett, Sam Howell and Gardner Minshew, but there are also quite a few that have proven to be pretty successful NFL quarterbacks.
Having to face Josh Allen and Tua Tagovailou twice is not something to look forward to. Tagovailou was leading the NFL in passer rating before he was hurt.
Aaron Rodgers, now with the Jets, should also make the Jets a more dangerous team offensively, and their 4th-ranked defense is 2022 should once again be a good test for any offense.
Others such as Jalen Hurts, Dak Prescott and Justin Herbert will surely also test the Pats defense. And, it wouldn't be a surprise to see much improved play from Russell Wilson, Derek Carr and Daniel Jones.
Judging by the improved QB competition that the Patriots will face in 2023, it seems like they will need not only a much improved offense but an improved defense as well.
If they are to make a run at a playoff spot this season Bill Belichick will have to do some of his best work to date in order to keep opposing offenses from outscoring Bill O'Brien's offense.