Week 2 & 9 New York Jets: By week nine the Pats will have played four divisional games and seven conference games. Head Coach Bill Belichick and the fans know how much of a dog fight the AFC East is and to knock off the Jets early will sweeten the playoff chances for the Pats. I'll look for Belichick to dish out some "tough love" to Eric Mangini, who will be lucky to have a .500 season without a running game and a lackluster defense. Another divisional sweep. [4-0]

Actual Results: The Pats split with the Jets 24-17 in New York and 14-17 in Foxboro. Belichick had back-to-back losses this year in games where he coached very uncharacteristic Patriots football, and their loss to the Jets was one.

Week 3 Denver Broncos: "Revenge is a Dish... Best Served Cold" is the Klingon proverb uttered by Kahn in "Star Trek 2," and that will be the theme of this prime time match up on Sunday night. This will be the most hostile night for an opponent this season since everyone in this area still holds a bad taste in their mouth about the playoff loss last year. The Patriots also know, despite the bad calls, they pretty much gift wrapped that game for the Broncos. Look for fan hostility and much better play from an amped up squad that now has Rodney Harrison, Junior Seau, Tedy Bruschi and 12th a player named Tully Banta-Cain.  I look for the Pats to take this game hands down. [5-0]

Actual Result: Once again the Patriots allow the Broncos to give them headaches, and can't get the job done with the passing game after RB Corey Dillon goes out of the game with an injury. 17-7 in Foxboro.

Week 4 Cincinnati Bengals: When the schedule was released early this year this game sent chills up my spine. I'm expecting this game to be a QB shootout, but unfortunately the team with the most painful playoff loss will come out on top. Look for this game to be the Patriots first loss. [5-1]

Actual Result: This game I thought the Pats were going to lose for sure, but the running game came out and chewed up 238 yards of real estate for the win in Cincy 38-13.

Week 5 & 14 Miami Dolphins: Every year these teams seem to split the season with help from the weather, but with QB Daunte Culpepper at the helm and a schedule that favors the 'Fins they will be looking to come in here and take the Pats out early so they can benefit from the nice weather when they match up at home later in the year. I'm looking for the Pats to realize the importance of the early home win to put the pressure on the Dolphins. Expect them to split the season as usual. [6-2]

Actual Results: Spilt as usual... 20-10 in Foxboro, 21-0 in Miami.

Week 8 Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings are hurting and everyone knows it. I'm looking for this game to be the Pats biggest win on the road. [7-2]

Actual Result: And it was, as QB Tom Brady shredded the Vikings' pass defense for 372 yards and 4 TDs in Minnesota on Monday night 31-7.

Week 9 Indianapolis Colts: Peyton Manning and his band of merry men return to Foxboro where they laid a whipping on the Pats last year on MNF. The odds of Belichick losing to a team back to back are very slim even with newly acquired kicker Adam Vinatieri. Look for the Pats and the second most hostile game of the year from the fans to give the Pats the push they need. [8-2]

Actual Result: Remember that second Jets game I talked about uncharacteristic coaching from Belichick? In a game where you are playing the worst run defense in the league, and a game where you had amassed 148 yds on the ground EASY you veer away from the running game and go to the air where Brady ends up getting picked four times in a game he had no business throwing the ball. The Pats lose 27-20 in Foxboro stunning the 68,000 in attendance.

Week 11 Green Bay Packers: November at Lambeau Field would usually send chills through most teams, but the Pats are used to cold weather, and they should be ready for the Packers' secondary defensive attack. This game will have to feature a great performance from Corey Dillon and Laurence Maroney. Pats will win a squeaker [9-2]

Actual Result: Brady had 244 passing yards and 4 TDs while RB Corey Dillon had the other in his 35-0 win in Green Bay.

Week 12 Chicago Bears: The Bears have a chip on their shoulders, and they will be coming here to prove they are a playoff contending team. Solid D from the Bears will steal the win from the Pats in this match up. [9-3]

Actual Result: In an ugly game with turnovers and penalties, the Pats come out on top 17-13 in Foxboro.

Week 13 Detroit Lions: For some reason, the Lions upper management still doesn't seem like they are committed to winning in my book. Look for the Lions to enter Gillette and be tamed yet again. [10-3]

Actual Result: Detroit came to Foxboro and made it interesting, but lost 28-21.

Week 15 Houston Texans: Last time it came down to an Adam Vinatieri kick in a game that was supposed to be a cake walk. QB David Carr is due to have a breakout year and the loss of RB Domanick Davis puts the pressure on his shoulders. This could be the trap game that the Patriots don't want to drop, I'm looking for the weather to play a factor in this win. [11-3]

Actual Result: 54 degrees in December! No weather to play a factor her, but the Pats win strong at home 40-7.

Week 16 Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jags are on a mission and they will have the home crowd behind them to deliver the Pats their worst road loss of the season. [11-4]

Actual Result: By the time this game had rolled around my tune had changed. The Pats were strong on the road this season, and despite Jacksonville being tough at home the Pats had been impressive outside of Foxboro. 24-21 Pats win.

Week 17 Tennessee Titans: If there is one thing Belichick does in coaching, and that is eat rookie QBs for breakfast by making sure he hits them with things they've never seen before. By the time this match up comes around QB Billy Volek will be out and Vince Young should be starting. Look for this final game on the road to be the secondary's most dominant, as the Patriots defensive corps will contain Young forcing him to throw the ball. [12-4]