Logan Ryan explains why you shouldn’t ‘sleep’ on 2023 Patriots

Patriots

“I believe everyone knows Belichick will outperform expectations.”

New England Patriots Logan Ryan heading to the end zone after an interception against the New York Jets during first quarter action at Metlife Stadium on Sunday October 20, 2013.
Logan Ryan believes the 2023 Patriots ought to nonetheless be aggressive within the AFC East. Matthew J. Lee/Globe Workers

The Patriots may have an uphill climb in what needs to be a cutthroat AFC East through the 2023 NFL season.

However one former Patriot remains to be excessive on New England’s probabilities of bouncing again from a dysfunctional 2022 marketing campaign.

Veteran cornerback and two-time Tremendous Bowl champion Logan Ryan joined fellow ex-Patriot defensive again Jason McCourty on NFL Community’s “Good Morning Soccer” Thursday to debate the Patriots’ playoff hopes within the months forward.

Even with the arrival of Aaron Rodgers in New York and each the Payments and Dolphins nonetheless boasting high-octane offensive items, Ryan believes that Invoice Belichick’s expertise and mettle can be sufficient to counter the assorted enhancements made by the Patriots’ division rivals over the offseason.

“I don’t assume the Patriots are going to place quite a lot of self-hype on the market within the offseason. I don’t assume that’s Invoice Belichick’s manner,” Ryan stated. “I don’t assume they’re ever going to win an offseason when it comes to acquisitions. That’s not the Invoice Belichick manner both. However one factor I find out about Invoice Belichick is he is aware of learn how to play towards Aaron Rodgers. We noticed that final yr once they went to Inexperienced Bay and possibly had been underdogs there. And he is aware of these quarterbacks on this division very well. He is aware of these play-callers in that division very well. I don’t assume you may ever sleep on the Patriots.

“I don’t know if they’ve the firepower on paper that a few of these different groups do. I don’t know if anybody can decide them, however I believe everyone knows Belichick will outperform expectations. We’ll see what that’s, however I consider the AFC East is loaded as a division and one of many hardest because it will get this yr.”

Ryan just isn’t the one former Patriot who expects Belichick’s group to place collectively stronger returns after their 8-9 displaying final season.

Talking on his “The Dan and Ninko Present” podcast earlier this month, former Patriots linebacker Rob Ninkovich tabbed the Patriots for 11 wins in 2023. 

Ninkovich’s visitor, Rob Gronkowski, additionally anticipated the Patriots to be higher than they had been in 2022. However given the enhancements made by the remainder of the sector within the AFC East, the longer term Corridor-of-Fame tight finish nonetheless thinks some robust sledding may very well be forward for New England.

“I say 9, 10 [wins] most,” Gronkowski stated. “It’s a tricky convention.”I believe the Jets are bringing some firepower. They did want a change at quarterback.

“Their quarterback play, for those who watch them play the Patriots — I imply, they only throw the ball up within the air and there’s nobody round 15 yards in addition to a New England participant. … “[New England’s] acquired an excellent protection. “Strong protection. I don’t assume they should enhance in that class.”