Only one of our predictors got the Patriots’ record correct last season. Will that trend change in 2022?
Here’s the Globe staff’s picks for division champions, the Super Bowl, and how New England will finish in Mac Jones’s second season at quarterback.
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CHAD FINN
Patriots — 9-8
Bill Belichick turned 70 years old in April. He’s 38 wins from tying Don Shula for the most coaching victories in NFL history. It’s easy to assume, then, that he’d be in win-now mode. But I’m not sure that he is. This isn’t a rebuilding season for the Patriots, but a building season — one to make tactical offensive changes, implement young players on defense, and be ready to contend again in ‘23.
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| AFC East | AFC North | AFC South | AFC West | AFC wild cards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bills | Bengals | Colts | Chiefs | Chargers, Raiders, Dolphins |
| NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West | NFC wild cards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eagles | Vikings | Buccaneers | Rams | 49ers, Cowboys, Packers |
Super Bowl — Bills over 49ers
It’s not quite redemption for the four straight losses from Super Bowls XXV to XXVIII, but it’s a sweet reward nonetheless for one of the most loyal NFL fan bases.
CHRISTOPHER L. GASPER
Patriots — 9-8
The Process of determining an offensive play-caller and the unnecessary overhaul of the offense set back the Patriots early in the season before Mac Jones overcomes his coaches and finds his groove as a franchise quarterback. A star quarterback papering over Patriots problems? That sounds familiar. The season is deemed a success when the Patriots force the Bills to punt in a December game that’s not played in a wind tunnel.
| AFC East | AFC North | AFC South | AFC West | AFC wild cards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bills | Ravens | Colts | Chiefs | Bengals, Broncos, Titans |
| NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West | NFC wild cards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowboys | Packers | Buccaneers | Rams | Vikings, Cardinals, Bears |
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Super Bowl — Buccaneers over Bills
It doesn’t matter what team he’s playing for, Tom Brady owns the Bills. This time, Brady rides off into a real retirement — and the Fox broadcast booth — with his eighth Super Bowl win.
JIM McBRIDE
Patriots — 10-7
Lions and Jets and Bears, oh my. More like oh goody. After a tough opening month (road trips to Miami, Pittsburgh, and Green Bay), the Patriots get a midseason break with home games against Norris Division punching bags Detroit and Chicago plus two games against the rival Jets. This is where they’ll need to get hot and make hay (want to play some fireball, Scarecrow?) if they want to get to Oz. OK, Kansas City, where there’s no place like an AFC playoff game.
| AFC East | AFC North | AFC South | AFC West | AFC wild cards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bills | Ravens | Colts | Chiefs | Raiders, Chargers, Patriots |
| NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West | NFC wild cards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eagles | Packers | Saints | Rams | 49ers, Buccaneers, Cowboys |
Super Bowl — Bills over Rams
Bills Mafia finally gets its wish as Josh “The Bootlegger” Allen delivers the goods for all of the goodfellas in Western New York. Beef on weck for everybody!
DAN SHAUGHNESSY
Patriots — 6-11
Bill Belichick’s 23rd season is a bad bookend to his first as HC of the NEP, when he went 5-11 in 2000. And like 2000, they have a good chance to start 0-4. After decades of mocking opponents, the Patriots are now the Tomato Cans.
| AFC East | AFC North | AFC South | AFC West | AFC wild cards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bills | Ravens | Titans | Chargers | Chiefs, Colts, Dolphins |
| NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West | NFC wild cards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowboys | Packers | Saints | Rams | Eagles, Buccaneers, Lions (yes, Lions) |
Super Bowl — Bills over Packers
In Glendale, Ariz., scene of David Tyree and “Malcolm, go!,” Tyler Bass kicks a 60-yard field goal to win it in overtime, dedicates his kick to Fred Smerlas, Bills Mafia, and Scott Norwood.
TARA SULLIVAN
Patriots — 9-8
The once-laughable AFC East keeps getting better, making it harder and harder to remember those days of dominance over the rest of the division. But they’re still the Patriots, and he’s still Bill Belichick, and with a defense built more than ever to try to contain a QB like Josh Allen, there’s still hope. Mac Jones is a sophomore now, and if he can stay upright behind a questionable offensive line, his comfort with his tight ends and receivers should get better.
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| AFC East | AFC North | AFC South | AFC West | AFC wild cards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bills | Bengals | Colts | Chargers | Chiefs, Broncos, Titans |
| NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West | NFC wild cards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eagles | Packers | Buccaneers | Rams | Cowboys, 49ers, Cardinals |
Super Bowl — Bills over Eagles
It’s do-or-die time for the Bills, and after gaining one measure of satisfaction last season with a laugher of a playoff win over the rival Patriots, it’s time to clear the final hurdle.
BEN VOLIN
Patriots — 8-9
They will be competitive, get hot in October, and remain relevant into December. But they don’t have enough firepower on offense, and the depth at linebacker and cornerback is terrifying. In a loaded AFC, the Patriots will take a step back and finish with a losing record for the second time in three seasons.
| AFC East | AFC North | AFC South | AFC West | AFC wild cards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bills | Ravens | Titans | Chiefs | Chargers, Dolphins, Raiders |
| NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West | NFC wild cards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eagles | Packers | Buccaneers | Rams | Cowboys, Saints, 49ers |
Super Bowl — Buccaneers over Bills
Buffalo thinks it experienced heartbreak last year when the Bills couldn’t hold a lead with just 13 seconds left against the Chiefs. Wait until this February, when they reach the Super Bowl for the first time in 29 years, only to lose to the ultimate villain — Tom Brady, who wins his eighth Lombardi Trophy and announces he’s coming back for another season.
NICOLE YANG
Patriots — 10-7
The second half of the schedule is more daunting than the first, with both of their matchups against Buffalo, a week out West ending with a showdown against Josh McDaniels’s Raiders, and a Christmas Eve date with Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and the Bengals. I wouldn’t be surprised if they start 6-3, or even 7-2, then falter after the bye. Still, I think the 10-win Patriots can sneak into the playoffs — only to once again lose in the first round, much to Robert Kraft’s chagrin.
| AFC East | AFC North | AFC South | AFC West | AFC wild cards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bills | Ravens | Colts | Chargers | Chiefs, Bengals, Patriots |
| NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West | NFC wild cards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowboys | Vikings | Buccaneers | Rams | 49ers, Packers, Eagles |
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Super Bowl — Bills over 49ers
Get your tables ready.
Chad Finn can be reached at chad.finn@globe.com. Christopher L. Gasper is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at christopher.gasper@globe.com. Follow him @cgasper and on Instagram @cgaspersports. Jim McBride can be reached at james.mcbride@globe.com. Follow him @globejimmcbride. Dan Shaughnessy is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at daniel.shaughnessy@globe.com. Follow him @dan_shaughnessy. Tara Sullivan is a Globe columnist. She can be reached at tara.sullivan@globe.com. Follow her @Globe_Tara. Ben Volin can be reached at ben.volin@globe.com. Nicole Yang can be reached at nicole.yang@globe.com.Follow her @nicolecyang.