Jordy McElroy
May 27, 2024 2:23 pm ET
The New England Patriots are hopeful the moves they made in free agency and the 2024 NFL draft are enough to get the team headed in the right direction.
Few are naive enough to believe that a one-year rebuild is enough to get the team back to perennial Super Bowl contention. It might not even be enough to get them back to being competitive in their own division.
But will they improve from last year’s 4-13 finish, and if so, by how much?
We did a regular season projection for the team with game-by-game predictions of the 2024 regular season schedule. ESPN’s Mike Clay projected the Patriots’ final record of the season, along with the records of the 31 other NFL teams.
Here’s a ranking of those teams by projected win totals:
32
New York Giants: 4.6Dec 25, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Giants helmet against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
31
Denver Broncos: 5.1Oct 8, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Detailed view of a White Cap edition Denver Broncos helmet worn by Denver Broncos punter Riley Dixon (9) before game against the New York Jets at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
30
Tennessee Titans: 5.3Jul 29, 2023; Nashville, TN, USA; View of helmets on the field as Tennessee Titans players finish training camp practice. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
29
Arizona Cardinals: 5.5Dec 31, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Arizona Cardinals helmet on the bench against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
28
New England Patriots: 5.7Aug 19, 2022; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; A Patriots helmet sits on the bench before the first half of a preseason game against the Carolina Panthers at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
27
Washington Commanders: 5.7Nov 23, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; A view of a Washington Commanders helmet during the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Commanders at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
26
Las Vegas Raiders: 5.8Dec 25, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; A general view of a Las Vegas Raiders helmet against the Kansas City Chiefs prior to a game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
25
Minnesota Vikings: 6.9Aug 19, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; A Minnesota Vikings helmet sits on the turf before the game against the Tennessee Titans at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
24
Carolina Panthers: 7.5Aug 21, 2021; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers helmet during the second half against the Baltimore Ravens at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
23
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 7.6Oct 26, 2023; Orchard Park, New York, USA; A general view of Tampa Bay Buccaneer helmets prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
22
Los Angeles Rams: 7.7Nov 5, 2023; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; General view of an Los Angeles Rams helmet during warmups prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
21
Pittsburgh Steelers: 7.9Aug 19, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; A Pittsburgh Steelers helmet sits on the sidelines against the Buffalo Bills at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
20
Los Angeles Chargers: 8.1Aug 25, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; General view of the helmet belonging to Los Angeles Chargers defensive tackle Christopher Hinton (not pictured) before the start of the third quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
19
Seattle Seahawks: 8.2Aug 26, 2023; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; A Seattle Seahawks helmet sits on the sidelines during warmups prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
18
Indianapolis Colts: 8.3Sep 17, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; A detailed view of an Indianapolis Colts helmet on the sideline during the game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
17
Jacksonville Jaguars: 8.5Oct 29, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars helmet on the sidelines against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
16
New Orleans Saints: 8.8Jan 7, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Detailed view of the New Orleans Saints helmet during warmups against the Atlanta Falcons at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
15
Green Bay Packers: 8.9Dec 12, 2021; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers helmets on the sidelines during the game against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
14
Houston Texans: 9.2Nov 19, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; View of a Houston Texans battle red helmet before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
13
Chicago Bears: 9.2Oct 15, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; A detailed view of the Chicago Bears helmet before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports
12
Buffalo Bills: 9.2Sep 24, 2023; Landover, Maryland, USA; A view of a Buffalo Bills player’s helmet on the sidelines against the Washington Commanders at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
11
Atlanta Falcons: 9.4Feb 5, 2024; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons helmet on the table before Raheem Morris is introduced as the new head coach of the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
10
Philadelphia Eagles: 9.6Nov 20, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; A general view of a Philadelphia Eagles helmet against the Kansas City Chiefs prior to a game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
9
Miami Dolphins: 10.0Aug 17, 2022; Miami Gardens, Florida, US; A general view of a Miami Dolphins helmet on the field during practice at Baptist Health Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
8
Cleveland Browns: 10.1Aug 17, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Cleveland Browns helmet on the sidelines against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
7
Cincinnati Bengals: 10.4Sep 19, 2021; Chicago, Illinois, USA; A detailed view of the Cincinnati Bengals helmet during the second half against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports
6
Detroit Lions: 10.6Dec 20, 2020; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; View of a Detroit Lions helmet on the bench before the game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
5
Dallas Cowboys: 11.2Sep 24, 2023; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Detail view of a Dallas Cowboys helmet in the second half against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
4
Baltimore Ravens: 11.3Nov 7, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; General view of the Baltimore Ravens helmet during the warm ups before the game against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
3
Kansas City Chiefs: 11.6Dec 10, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; A general view of a Kansas City Chiefs helmet against the Buffalo Bills during the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
2
New York Jets: 11.6Aug 12, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; New York Jets helmet during the second quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
1
San Francisco 49ers: 12.3Dec 31, 2023; Landover, Maryland, USA; San Francisco 49ers helmet against the Washington Commanders during the first half at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports