"Chuck Knocks" is back for another season, but the first time in five years our Seahawk Opponent Training Camp Previews will live on our website. Fear not, The Feltsulator is coming with us to the website. Game by game, Jackson Felts will simulate the entire 2020 season (not sure he can take the fans out of the stands, so sorry about the lack of authenticity). I'll handle the rest...
WEEK 2: PATRIOTS AT (1-0) SEAHAWKS
THE INTERESTING SCALE: A+
Football's power couple is divorced. Bill got the house and the good flatware. Tom has already remarried, his new club spoiling him with money and toys. Bill keeps the trophies. Tom has visitation Wednesdays and every other weekend.
After 20 years together and six world titles, Brady and Belichik will be in different cities for Training Camp this summer, each man determined to win without the other. Nothing was supposed to be more interesting this football season than that, until Covid gummed up the works.
THE NEW FACE AT PATRIOT CAMP: CAM NEWTON
Oh yah, I almost forgot. Cam Newton is a Patriot now. The face of the Carolina franchise was removed from the grounds as easily as Jerry Richardson's statue. New owner, new era, new head coach, and it was time to move on from the franchise's only league MVP. Newton's recent injury history plus the pandemic kept teams from considering him as their next quarterback. And Belichik bought him for a song. The slaps to Cam's face have left him raw. He seems more determined than ever. He looks better than ever. If the shoulder is right, the 31-year old can easily be a star again. If not, the Jarrett Stidham Era begins in Beantown.
STAR OF PATRIOTS CAMP: THE GHOST OF TOM BRADY
GOATs tend to leave a void. Doesn't matter if the time was right for turning the page. If Newton and Stidham fail, Patriot fans will never forgive Robert Kraft and Coach Mumbles for forcing them to watch their beloved Tom finish his career in another uniform--much less a Tampa Bay Buccaneer uniform. It's like seeing James Bond wearing one of those tuxedo t-shirts. If Tom succeeds as a Buccaneer, he'll haunt them. If the Patriots falter without Tom, he'll haunt them. If Bill Belichik is making pottery with Whoopi Goldberg and feels a familiar icy tingle creeping up his spine, that's Tom Brady haunting him. Number 12 won't be at Patriots Camp, and yet he'll be everywhere at Patriots Training Camp, haunting them.
FANTASY PICK: MATT LACOSSE (OR WHOEVER WINS THE TE JOB)
Color me interested in having Cam Newton start for me this fantasy football season, but let's go sleeper--DEEP sleeper. The league has never been more in love with using Tight Ends, the Patriots love using Tight Ends, and Cam's favorite target in Carolina was a Tight End. Not going to lie to you: I don't know much about Matt LaCosse, but he's currently the #1 Tight End on the Patriots depth chart. He could stink and might still be worthy of your final round pick.
OUTLOOK: 9-7
Let's not forget; the Patriots had the #1 ranked defense in the NFL last season. They also won another division without a running game or decent receivers to compliment Julian Edelman. They're not going away. But I do believe they'll drift. Time for a new AFC East Champ--the first in twelve years. The Buffalo Bills.
PATRIOTS AT SEAHAWKS: WHAT WILL WE BE SAYING MONDAY MORNING?
"Cam looked good. By midseason, it wouldn't surprise me if he doesn't have this Patriot offense on track for the playoffs. And it was cool seeing him and Greg Olsen hug it out after the game. But Cam was a little clunky yesterday, the Pats still don't have enough weapons in the passing game, and Sony Michel is going to see Bobby Wagner in his dreams for a month... On the other side of the ball, it looks like we're going to have to wait another week to see the offense get on track. Never easy facing Belichik. But Russell did enough in the fourth quarter to pull out a win. 20-17. We'll take it. 2-0 and ready for Dallas next week."
But how did it really go down? I give you the results of The Feltsulator...
The 'Let Russ Cook' crowd won't be happy with the second week game in the 2020 Feltsulator season for the Seattle Seahawks. Hosting the New EnglandPatriotsin Primetime, a situation Pete Carroll rarely loses, Bill Belichick and Cam Newton came to town and took control early. After trading touchdowns on the first two drives, including an epic 21 yard touchdown catch by DK Metcalf (video), New England scored 13 in the second quarter to lead 20-7. Carroll and Brian Schottenheimer wouldn't stop trying to run Chris Carson, and payed dearly. By the start of the fourth quarter, down 28-7, Carson was done at 15 rushes and 76 yards. Only then did Russell Wilson start cooking. Wilson led two fourth quarter touchdown drives, but it was too little, too late, and the Seattle defense couldn't stop Newton, as New England sailed to a 35-21 win, dropping the Feltsulator Seahawks to 1-1.
Stats:
Russell Wilson: 27 of 36 for 303 yards and 3 TD
Cam Newton: 24 of 42 for 259 yards and 3 TD
Chris Carson: 15 rushes for 76 yards
Sony Michel: 27 rushes for 114 yards and 1 TD
Tyler Lockett: 8 receptions for 90 yards and 1 TD
DK Metcalf: 6 receptions for 65 yards and 1 TD
N'Keal Harry: 8 receptions for 86 yards and 1 TD
Julian Edelman: 7 receptions for 100 yards and 1 TD