We won 8 and should have won 10-11 but for some outrageous bad breaks/freak plays, and that was with less talent, chaos on offense, and some injuries including Mac. This schedule is a little tougher but we've improved the roster in all 3 phases, so I see 10 wins.
First of all,
@40yrpatsfan, great to see another long time fan on the board. My first trip to Foxboro was for opening day in 1974. Memorable for many reasons...but I digress...other than to make the point that it was 49 years ago
"bad breaks/freak plays...talent...chaos...injuries" are integral to the game, from HS to the NFL.
In the end, I agree with Bill Parcells..."You are who your record says you are."
"bad breaks/freak plays?" Sometimes the freak plays go your way (Tuck game anyone?), sometimes they don't (the Magic Helmet Catch).
"talent?" Brady played over the years with several very, very good offensive, "skill player" weapons (Jules, Danny, Clock Killin' Corey Dillon to name just three) whom he made great over the years, but only with two bona-fide, no-doubt HOF-ers, Gronk and Moss (Dillon and Moss for a short time)
"injuries?" Too many to count including on major opponents
"chaos?" Spygate and Deflategate come to mind.
They won 8 games last season. They were an 8 win team last season.
I have them (in May) at 8 this year. The number could be higher or lower depending on breaks, freak plays, chaos, injuries and how several players, including a yet-unproven QB, show up and/or respond to a legitimate NFL OC. I might revise that prediction before opening day based on how things seem to be going.