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ESPN Predicts Their 5 Best NFL Teams in 2017

By Erik Lambert

Sep 11, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Oakland Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio talks to quarterback Derek Carr (4) in the second quarter of their game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 11, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Oakland Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio talks to quarterback Derek Carr (4) in the second quarter of their game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 16, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) talks with New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional round playoff game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 16, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) talks with New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional round playoff game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports /

New England Patriots (13-3)

"“The Patriots once again have a well-placed bye at the middle point of the season — which is the same as they had in their 2016 Super Bowl championship season — and then play five of the next six games on the road. That could be the defining stretch of the schedule. But if the Patriots take advantage of having five of their first eight games at home, they could build themselves some margin for error coming down the homestretch.”"

This should be no surprise. The Patriots haven’t finished with a worse record than 12-4 since 2009 and have made the AFC championship every year since 2011. It is arguably the greatest juggernaut of a franchise in NFL history. They still have Tom Brady under center and somehow a more intriguing roster than last season when they went 14-2 and won the Super Bowl. As usual they are the team to beat and will likely hold the best record at the end of the regular season.

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