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NFL 2017 preview: Looking at strengths, weaknesses and X-factors for all 32 teams

By Peter Panacy

Jan 22, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) greet each other following the 2017 NFC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Dan Powers/Appleton Post Crescent via USA TODAY NETWORK
Jan 22, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) greet each other following the 2017 NFC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Dan Powers/Appleton Post Crescent via USA TODAY NETWORK /
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Dec 14, 2014; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates with head coach Bill Belichick (R) after clinching the AFC East title with a 41-13 win over the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 14, 2014; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates with head coach Bill Belichick (R) after clinching the AFC East title with a 41-13 win over the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /

New England Patriots

2016 Record: 14-2, First Place in the AFC East

Say what you want about the defending Super Bowl champions. The New England Patriots aren’t likely to go anywhere. Not as long as quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick are in town.

The Pats will be relevant, even dominant, as long as those two are factors. 2016 was a perfect example of this, and we shouldn’t expect anything less this season.

With tight end Rob Gronkowski coming back, and hopefully staying healthy, the Patriots offense will remain dynamic.

And it isn’t as if Brady can’t turn an unknown wide receiver, like Chris Hogan, into an overnight sensation.

To make things even better, New England added speedy wideout Brandin Cooks via a trade with the New Orleans Saints. The rich get richer.

Linebacker Dont’a Hightower, the unquestioned leader of the defense, stays put as well. Yes, this unit is just as good too.

Strengths

It would be redundant to list all the strengths here. The Patriots boast one of the best, if not the best, QB to play in the NFL. And it doesn’t matter who’s on the receiving end. But Cooks and Gronkowski are legitimate threats and mismatch nightmares.

Belichick is a genius, known for taking opponents’ best players out of the game plan. So it’s no surprise New England boasted the league’s best scoring defense a year ago.

Should we go on?

Weaknesses

There aren’t too many. Perhaps the Patriots rushing attack isn’t at the elite level. And losing out on LeGarrette Blount in free agency might hurt a bit. But the Pats have gotten by with sub-par running games before without any setback.

Maybe the Patriots’ 2017 NFL Draft class wasn’t overly stellar. They only brought in four players. But knowing how New England operates, some of these guys may wind up being household names in two or three years.

X-Factors

Brady will be elite until, well, he isn’t. Yet Brady is aging and will turn 40 years old by the time Week 1 rolls around. Father Time always wins, so the clock is ticking.

Gronkowski’s health is another concern. Sure, the Pats got by last season with fellow tight end Martellus Bennett filling in for an injured Gronkowski. But the former is with the Packers now, so what happens if yet another injury befalls Gronkowski in 2017?

Still, the Patriots will be fine.