Why NFL Writer Named Patriots ‘Pretender’ Heading Down Stretch

The New England Patriots are one of the best teams in the NFL, but many people aren’t buying them as a real Super Bowl contender.

Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon believes the Patriots are more of a pretender than a contender heading down the stretch.

“The vast majority of the Patriots’ wins have come against soft opponents, and a roster that lacks talent compared to other contenders could have a difficult time sustaining this,” Gagnon wrote on Wednesday. “Pretender, for now. This changes if they beat the Bills and Ravens next month, but that’ll be a tough task for a team that is still completing a rebuild. The Pats are a year away, but they are on the right track.”

According to Tankathon.com, the Patriots have the easiest schedule in the NFL.

Despite having the most manageable schedule, the Patriots still pulled off some major wins this season, including beating the Bills in Buffalo and the Buccaneers on the road in Tampa.

The Patriots are currently riding an eight-game winning streak, which is no small feat in the NFL. Winning consistently week after week is a challenge, regardless of the skill level of the teams New England faced.