The Facts: HC Bill Belichick still hasn't endorsed a starting quarterback. During Thursday night's schedule release, when NFL Network's Rich Eisen asked how he's preparing for his first season in New England without Tom Brady, the Patriots coach reminded he's managed to get his team ready without TB12 before, notably in 2008 after a season-ending injury in the season opener and for the first four games of 2016. The Patriots went 13-6 in those contests. "We'll do what we always do," Belichick said.

Diehards Line:The bigger question for now is if there will be any additions to a QB room currently made up of second-year Jarrett Stidham, journeyman Brian Hoyer and undrafted rookies Brian Lewerke and J'Mar Smith. "That's where we are," Belichick said. "You never know what's going to happen down the road, but we feel like we have four good players there." They'll need at least one. The Patriots have the toughest strength of schedule in 2020 based on their opponents' 2019 records, a first for New England in the Belichick era.