Last Place Patriots? 'Every Team Has A Better QB,' Analyst Predicts

The New England Patriots haven't finished last in the AFC East since 2000.

As things stand, the AFC East looks to be one of the most competitive divisions in the NFL this season. Don't let the Buffalo Bills' three-year division title streak fool you; the AFC East will be tough for any team to win. With the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins making major improvements this offseason, many are already starting to predict a further downfall from the New England Patriots.

Yes, the Patriots did make improvements of their own this offseason, getting quarterback Mac Jones help via receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, tight end Mike Gesicki, and arguably the biggest addition overall, the hiring of offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien ... but it doesn't seem to be enough.

When speaking about the Patriots' chance of winning the East on ESPN's "Get Up," former NFL safety Ryan Clark asked if New England even has "enough" to avoid a last-place battle. 

“Nope,” Clark said. “Not if the players that are important for the Miami Dolphins, the New York Jets, and the Buffalo Bills are there. If these rosters are whole — and we know those things don’t maintain throughout the season — but if the principles of these teams are available, the New England Patriots are absolutely going to finish last in the AFC East." 

But why?

“Every team has a better quarterback," Clark said. "Every team has better skill players. Every team can push the football down the field in a way we haven’t seen the New England Patriots be able to do it with Mac Jones at the helm.”

Even Clark admits it won't be all bad for the Patriots, even if they are fighting against a "stacked" division. Clark did say that he believes the Patriots' offense under O'Brien will be better with the additions of Smith-Shuster and Gesicki while adding he sees Jones playing back to a similar level that he did as a rookie.

If Clark is right, it would be the first time since coach Bill Belichick's first season in New England that the Patriots finished in last place in the AFC East ... and if the rumors are to be believed, it'd likely be his last season. 

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