Greg M. Cooper- USA TODAY Sports
After predicting the outcomes for the first four games on the 2013 New England Patriots’ schedule and then examining their next four contests from Weeks 5-8, I next analyzed their match-ups for the Weeks 9 through 13. Finally, I will provide my outlook for the final four weeks of their season.
According to my predictions, the New England Patriots enter Week 14 with an impressive 10-2 record. The Cleveland Browns head to Gillette Stadium this week. Bill Belichick and the Patriots certainly remember the last time they played Cleveland when the Browns steamrolled the Patriots behind a two touchdown, 184 yard rushing attack from running back Peyton Hillis (now a member of the Kansas City Chiefs). The Patriots will look for revenge against a Browns squad that buffed up their defense in free agency, adding Paul Kruger and Desmond Bryant. The Browns rarely got blown out last season, despite winning only five games, and will give the Patriots a tough game, but in the end the Browns’ lack of offensive firepower (outside of Trent Richardson) will cost them the win.
Patriots 20, Browns 16
The Patriots travel to Sun Life Stadium the next week to end their season-series with the division rival Miami Dolphins. I predicted the Patriots would win the first matchup of the 2013 season, sending a message to the Dolphins that the division still belongs to New England. But this time around, I look for the Dolphins to take this contest as they make their push for the playoffs. The Dolphins will not win the division, but this win could go a long way in helping them reach the postseason for the first time since 2008.
Dolphins 27, Patriots 24
The Patriots play their final road game of the season at M & T Bank Stadium to take on the defending-Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens lost key proponents from their Super Bowl team, including Kruger, Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Bernard Pollard, Matt Birk and Anquan Boldin. The Ravens are now a borderline playoff team and the Patriots will win this game as they hope to wash away the memories of the 2012 AFC Championship game and potentially take the Ravens out of the playoff race.
Patriots 31, Ravens 21
The Patriots finish the 2013 season at home against the Buffalo Bills. The Patriots reached the Super Bowl each of the last two times they closed their season hosting the Bills, winning the Lombardi Trophy in 2003 and falling to the New York Giants in the 2011 Super Bowl. I predicted the Patriots would crush the Bills in their opening match-up in Week 1 and the same result should be expected, even if the Patriots are resting their starters. The Patriots will finish the 2013 season with a 13-3 record, potentially good enough to earn the top seed in the AFC.
Patriots 37, Bills 23
Tyler Ash is a New England Patriots Writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on twitter @TyAsh34 Like His Facebook Page, or add him to your network on Google Plus … He writes NBA articles and MLB articles for Rant Sports as well.
