3 Hidden Traps That Could Derail the Patriots' 2020 Season

In September, the Patriots will enter their first season without Tom Brady since 1999. They will obviously have a ton to contend with as they move into a new era in New England. Jarrett Stidham will be under center, and a great deal of their success will rest on his shoulders. The Patriots will undoubtedly face adversity, but it will be how they deal with it that will determine their fate. These are three of the biggest challenges the Pats will need to overcome in 2020.

3. Culture Shock

James White has only played with Tom Brady as his quarterback. / Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Brady had been part of the Patriots organization for 20 years. Whenever you lose a player who has been with you for that long, there will be a huge culture shock in the locker room. Many offensive players such as Julian Edelman, Sony Michel and James White have only played with Brady as their leader. They will need to adjust in order to perform just as well as they have in previous years, if not better, with a new quarterback. This especially applies to Edelman, who will be Stidham's most important weapon in 2020. If they can find a good rhythm, it would pay dividends for the Pats.

2. Reliance on Veterans

Devin McCourty will need to have a vintage season in 2020 for the Pats to remain contenders. / Kathryn Riley/Getty Images

While it is usually an advantage to have a solid collection of veterans on a team, it's not great when nearly all of the Patriots playmakers are over the age of 30. Dont'a Hightower, Devin McCourty, Julian Edelman and Mohamed Sanu are all on the wrong side of 30. Even Stephon Gilmore will be 30 by Week 2. The Patriots rely on these players to show up and make big plays every week. We could see some of them start to drop off this season. If these vets aren't able to keep producing at the same rate they always have, the Pats could run into a lot of trouble.

1. The Toughest Schedule in the NFL

The Patriots will face a challenge every week in 2020. / Adam Glanzman/Getty Images

If it couldn't get any harder for the Pats, they weren't handed any favors by their schedule. The Pats officially have the hardest schedule in the NFL, with a .537 opponents win percentage. The Pats will face off against both teams that took part in the Super Bowl 54, along with the dangerous Ravens and Seahawks, just to name a few. The Patriots will face a challenge every week, making the season an absolute grind for 16 games.