5 must-important things about New England Patriots for Week 1

Hello, Patriots fans! The new era of New England football is finally upon us, and it’s the perfect time to check in.

This offseason has been nothing short of eventful. The Patriots parted ways with the greatest coach in NFL history, brought in a millennial head coach with just five years of assistant coaching experience, and drafted their hopeful quarterback of the future.

As the season kicks off, The Athletic will have all your NFL coverage, and I’ll be reporting live from News CBS, keeping you updated on everything, especially the quarterback situation (how long until we see Drake Maye?), Jerod Mayo’s first year as head coach, and the team’s rebuilding efforts.

Joining me is columnist Steve Buckley, who’ll be my press box partner, and the unlucky witness to my growing collection of empty coffee cups during games. (No, that’s not a commentary on needing caffeine to watch the Patriots’ offense—promise.)

But there’s more! For coverage beyond the Patriots, The Athletic has you covered with The Pulse, delivering the biggest sports storylines straight to your inbox. You can also download our app on iOS or Google to get personalized news on your favorite teams. Dive deep into the NFL with Scoop City, where insider Dianna Russini and our team provide the latest league insights.

It’s going to be an intriguing season, and we’re thrilled to have you with us. Thanks for reading!

Week 1: at Bengals, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)

Here are some stories to get you ready for the season:

• What I’m seeing: Waiting on Drake Maye and other observations The Patriots hope to delay starting their rookie QB, but both players and coaches believe they can surprise teams this season.
• Why isn’t Patriots QB Drake Maye starting Week 1? Should the Patriots have let Maye start right away and learn through experience?
• Jerod Mayo riding a wave of change as the post-Belichick era kicks off The new head coach steps into big shoes, but don’t expect New England to be the same under Mayo.
• A beginner’s guide to what could be a rough Patriots season Stay positive! The 2024 Patriots might cause some sleepless nights, but at least your team isn’t going anywhere.
• Mayo names Jacoby Brissett the Patriots’ starter, but the QB situation is complicated If the QB competition between Brissett and Maye was real, shouldn’t the rookie be starting? There’s more to this story.
• In processing two tragedies, Christian Gonzalez dealt with far more than just an injury Gonzalez’s rookie year ended after four games, but the emotional challenges he faced outweighed the physical injury.
• The Patriots’ 10 most important players entering the 2024 season From Keion White to Mike Onwenu, here’s a rundown of the 10 most crucial players to the Patriots’ success.
• 10 bold (and not-so-bold) predictions for the Patriots’ season Predictions for the 2024 season, including Drake Maye’s progress and how many wins the Patriots could secure.
• Roster review: One thought on every player who made the cut A breakdown of the Patriots’ 53-man roster, with one key takeaway for each player.
• Gillette Stadium guide Everything you need to know to make the most of your trip to Gillette Stadium.

Buckle up, Patriots fans—this season is going to be a ride!