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The Good News

Need some good news in Foxborough? Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are still running the show here. And that's good news enough to feel like the Patriots will once again be contenders in a weaker AFC.

Brady won't be as alone as many think, though. Protected by the AFC's best offensive line, and with the help of 1,200-yard rusher Stevan Ridley, the Patriots offense may not look the same, but the results will likely be similar to those of 2012.

An improving defense will also help. The linebacking corps of Brandon Spikes, Jerod Mayo and Dont'a Hightower are good enough to keep New England in games even when the offense might struggle. Add in a secondary that was much improved with Aqib Talib and Alfonzo Dennard in the starting lineup, and you have a much better defense than the national media wants to admit.

The Bad News

Unless you were living on a remote island all summer, you know about the loss of offensive playmakers that Tom Brady and Bill Belichick will have to overcome. And to say they've done it all before may not be good enough, as Brady wasn't 36 years old when he was making Reche Caldwell look like a capable NFL wide receiver.

It's easy to look at the losses—Aaron Hernandez and Wes Welker, especially—and be pessimistic about the team's chances this year. Belichick and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels will have to reinvent themselves to some degree, and while that's possible, it's not an easy thing to do with two rookie wide receivers and an injury-prone slot weapon as your best bets at receiver.

It's a personal rule of mine never to bet against Brady and Belichick, but this season will test that faith.