2015 NFL Predictions: How Will Patriots Fare Without Tom Brady? |

2015 NFL Predictions: How Will Patriots Fare Without Tom Brady?

The 2015 NFL schedule is out there for all to see and Tom Brady just got suspended. Those two facts have New England Patriots thinking one thing loudly – how will their beloved Pats fare while Tom Terrific is on the bench? Brady is at least for now set to miss the first four games of the 2015 NFL season. That number could shrink down to two if his appeal works out in his favor, and whispers are growing louder that Brady could possibly even see his suspension wiped away, altogether. That’s not impossible, but odds are the league sticks with it’s initial punishment.

If that’s the case, Jimmy Garoppolo will start in Brady’s place for the first four games of the year. This is big enough that some gambling sites have removed Patriots odds from their boards, altogether. That shouldn’t stop you from scouting their first few games of 2015, though. If Brady remains suspended, let’s take a journey through their early schedule and see how we might expect them to fare:

Week 1 – VS. Pittsburgh Steelers

This is a tough matchup for the second-year Garoppolo perhaps a few years ago, but the stud veterans that made the yellow and black a feared defense are no more. New England also figures to ease Garoppolo in by leaning hard on the ground game on offense, and that could work out well at home versus the Steelers. Pittsburgh does have an explosive offense that could take the top off of the Pats, but they’re also down a big player of their own with running back Le’Veon Bell serving a three-game ban to start the year. Garoppolo shouldn’t light up the Steelers, but I think New England can rally around him and Pittsburgh being one-dimensional on offense could have the Pats squeaking out a defensive battle at home to get 2015 going.

Week 2 – @ Buffalo Bills

Garoppolo could be running into a chainsaw here, as Rex Ryan is likely licking his chops with a very tough Bills defense hosting the Pats in week two. The home crowd won’t be there to assist New England, while the Bills figured to be a tough road contest, with or without Brady. Garoppolo should struggle in this one and the Pats may not be able to lean so well on their running game against a stout Buffalo run defense. Expect a low-scoring affair and a Buffalo home win.

Week 3 VS. Jacksonville Jaguars

Brady could possibly be back for week three if his suspension gets cut in half, but the Pats have to be the favorites here, either way. Garoppolo can handle a Jaguars defense that can still be beat over the top, while New England should be able to confuse second-year Jaguars passer, Blake Bortles. The Jags certainly made plenty of solid offensive improvements and could even be competitive, but they’re not ready to take down the defending champs on the road.

Week 5 @ Dallas Cowboys

This is the big one the Pats will hope to have Brady back for, but if his four-game ban stands, he won’t be. That will pit Jimmy Garoppolo against Tony Romo on the road, in a pretty hostile environment. Dallas has improved defensively, at least on paper, and could be a tough matchup for Garoppolo. The good news is Garoppolo has experience by this point and if his chemistry with Rob Gronkowski is any good, he could actually have a solid outing. Dallas has the offense to keep up with a non-Brady offense, though, as Dez Bryant could have a huge game and the ‘Boys collection of running backs should find running room against New England’s in-transition run defense. This could be an explosive and close affair, but the Cowboys have to get the nod in Dallas.

If Brady’s suspension as we know it stands, I think the Pats are looking at a 2-2 start for the second year in a row. That’s not ideal, but that’s where they were last year and they went on to win the Super Bowl. With an irate Brady returning in week six, that just might happen again.