3 ideal scenarios for Patriots in 2019

If these three things happen, then New England could be in line for their seventh championship in franchise history.

The New England Patriots organization has high hopes for the 2019 season. Coming off a Super Bowl championship, a strong draft, and some key offseason moves from a roster perspective, the Patriots are in a better situation than they have been in recent years to make a push for yet another Super Bowl run. 

Though plenty of things can go wrong for the team, as can for any NFL team, such as injuries, regression, etc, there are also plenty of things that can go right for New England which can make their path to an extended playoff run that much easier this season. 

Let's look at three ideal scenarios for the Patriots in 2019, which could put them on a clear path to championship No. 7. 

1) Josh Gordon plays every game in 2019 season

The return of receiver Josh Gordon gives plenty of excitement to the New England fan base, but also brings plenty of expectation for the troubled wideout. Though Gordon can be one of the best receivers in the game when he is on the field, the problem for him is his prior inconsistencies of staying on the field because of his off-the-field issues, the same ones that led to his indefinite suspension from the NFL last December. 

Unfortunately, due to the number of times Gordon has been suspended by the league because of his neglect to stay within the NFL's protocols, the expectation is that at some point in time in the future he will once again miss more playing time. 

Ideally, the Patriots, along with those watching, would like to see Gordon play every one of his team's games in 2019. If he could pull that off, which isn't impossible given the stable environment he is immersed in as a member of New England's organization, then the success of the team this season could be obtained much easier due to his contributions on offense, whatever those contributions may be. 

With rookie wideout N'Keal Harry landing on IR to begin the season, the offense will now weigh more heavily on the likes of Gordon and Julian Edelman in the passing game. Though relying on Gordon is something that the team should shy away from until he proves he can be a reliable asset, the veteran receiver can do just that if he puts his troubled past behind him and produces this season without any hiccups. 

2) Sony Michel's ailing knee issues don't force him to miss time

One of the narratives troubling Patriots fans this offseason was the longevity of running back Sony Michel, who underwent another knee procedure this offseason on the same knee he's had lingering issues with dating back to college. 

The 2nd-year back proved during his preseason debut against the Carolina Panthers that he is primed to take another step forward after a strong rookie campaign. But the thought remains in the back of our heads that durability could be an issue for Michel going forward, specifically towards the end of the season when Michel will have already dealt with his fair share of physical punishment during the gruesome 16-game schedule.

A perfect scenario would be for Michel's knee to stay healthy the entire season, which could allow him to have a monster season, one that could result in double-digit touchdowns and 1,000+ rushing yards. This is a scenario that could arguably be more realistic than the 1st ideal scenario on this list, and could have a much larger impact as well. 

If New England can have a healthy Michel for the entirety of the 2019 season, the team's chances at yet another Super Bowl championship will skyrocket. 

3) Michael Bennett has a career year, making New England forget about Trey Flowers

The biggest worry from a defensive perspective heading into the 2019 season was if the Patriots would be able to fill the void left by defensive end Trey Flowers, who was the team's best pass rusher last season and got paid accordingly by the Detroit Lions this offseason. A candidate who could most-likely fill that void - Michael Bennett. 

At 33 years old, Bennett is in line to be the Patriots most productive pass rusher in 2019. His ability to play multiple positions on the defensive line and do such at a high level despite his age make this ideal scenario not such a far reach. 

New England linebacker Kyle Van Noy said on Wednesday that he believes Bennett could have a career year with the Patriots this season. That would entail 10+ sacks, 52+ tackles, and 18+ tackles for loss, which are the numbers he put up in 2015 with the Seattle Seahawks and was his best statistical season to-date. A season like that may not be farfetched, considering the scheme he is now playing in and how great of shape he is in despite his age. 

If Bennett can have a career year with New England, then their pass rush will be better than it was in 2018, and fans will seemingly forget about the departure of Flowers.