On paper, only one of the other 31 NFL teams will have an easier slate of 2019 opponents than the New England Patriots — the team that won the Super Bowl not even three weeks ago. The combined record of the clubs that the Patriots will play as they try to defend their title is a combine 120-134-2 for a winning percentage of .473, tied for 27th easiest in the league. But is it really as easy as it looks like?
For starters, the Patriots have to go through the same slate of games as every other team next year.