The Patriots’ extremely soft schedule just became even easier

The New England Patriots already have an advantage that other teams don’t year after year — they play in the AFC East, which means they get to play the usually hapless Dolphins, Bills and Jets twice.

But in 2019, their other opponents include the NFC East (the Redskins and Giants), the improved-but-maybe-still-getting-there Browns and the Bengals.

And that brings us to Thursday’s news: The Jets will be without Sam Darnold for, potentially, the next few weeks due to a diagnosis of mononucleosis. Guess who plays New York in Weeks 3 and 7?

Yep.

This is some of the reaction from around the Interwebs to the news:

Patriots face the tanking Dolphins this week, Darnold-less Jets at home, then at Buffalo, at Washington, vs. Giants (TNF), at Jets. Might be the softest opening schedule in the NFL

— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) September 12, 2019

Patriots already had No. 32 schedule by projected DVOA, now will face Jets backup QB likely twice. https://t.co/dRniybNGRZ

— Aaron Schatz 🏈 (@FO_ASchatz) September 12, 2019

NY Jets QB Sam Darnold has mono. Out for weeks. Patriots just clinched the AFC East. It’s week 2.

— Colin Cowherd (@ColinCowherd) September 12, 2019

Congrats to the .@Patriots …after just the 1st week of the @nfl season they have officially clinched the AFC EAST!

— Dan Sileo (@DanSileoShow) September 12, 2019

Although this is the point I would make in response …

The Patriots clinched the AFC East in February dude. https://t.co/RcYVFmWsGl

— Mitch Eversole (@Mitch_Eversole) September 12, 2019

… It’s still a reminder that the Patriots have it even easier than they did before.