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Eight burning questions heading into the 2017 NFL season

Can Marshawn Lynch help lead his Raiders to the Super Bowl?

8. Will the Patriots repeat?

Tom Brady

Yes. Okay, article done.

In reality, New England has to be the odds-on favorite to hoist the Lombard in Houston next February. We can talk about Tom Brady acting the part of an ageless wonder en route to leading the team to the great comeback in Super Bowl history last season. We can talk about Bill Belichick’s coaching prowess and just how dominant he has been on the sideline. Those are two things pretty much everyone already knows about.

Instead, it’s what New England did during the free agency period that has to scare the collective jockstraps off opposing NFL teams. From adding a true No. 1 corner in Stephon Gilmore to go with Pro Bowler Malcolm Butler in the secondary to trading for young receiver Brandin Cooks, there’s not much we can question regarding New England’s offseason.

Gilmore and Butler make for an elite-level coverage tandem on the outside. That’s something the Patriots really have not had during this dominant run that has included five Super Bowl titles in 16 years. It will make the rest of the team’s defense that much better — a defense that, mind you, added defensive end Kony Ealy and retained Pro Bowl linebacker Dont’a Hightower in free agency.

Offensively, it’s just downright scary. Sure New England lost LeGarrette Blount in free agency, but the team didn’t really seem interested in re-signing him. Instead, the Patriots signed Mike Gillislee away from the division-rival Buffalo Bills. A former fifth-round pick of the Dolphins, the 26-year-old Gillislee put up over 900 total yards and 12 touchdowns while averaging 5.7 yards per rush for Buffalo over the past two seasons. He joins a solid running back group that includes holdovers Dion Lewis and James White.

Though, New England’s biggest acquisition was former Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks. The still young 23-year-old pass catcher has put up over 2,300 yards and 17 touchdowns over the past two seasons. Add his No. 1 receiver ability to a group that already includes Julian Edelman, Chris Hogan and Malcolm Mitchell, and this might be one of the scariest units in football.

As we said before, the Patriots are clear favorites to win the Super Bowl this upcoming season. The only real question here is whether Rob Gronkowski can stay healthy. Should that happen, it would not be a surprise to see Brady and Co. hoist a sixth Lombardi in less than two decades.

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