This season is a head scratcher. I could easily see them go .500, or they could win 11 or 12 if their D gels. However that's very unlikely given their age and the fact that there are still gaps in talent and injuries. I don't think we will really know what this team is until the 2nd half of the season.
The pats aren't cheap, they just put a value on a player and don't go above that. They prefer to spread the money out to create depth. The Jets have spent like drunken sailors on thier #1's.....and have a ton of talent. However once you get past the 1's their 2's and 3's are terrible. If the Jets sustain a couple key injuries their season will circle the drain real quick. The pats won't pay top dollar, (Brady and Wilfork being the exception) but they will spread the money around so they have depth.
If you could point the finger at one area of weakness it's the draft 2006 and beyond. When the pats have stayed put and drafted high they generally do pretty good (Seymore, Mayo, Mankins, ect....) however when they don't they trade down to get multiple picks. This has typically been where they have bitten the dust.......quantity over quality hasn't worked recently.