The Patriots go into this season as the class of the division on paper but not without some question marks.

First is how they react under pressure on the sidelines, where Bill Belichick is working without his long-time offensive and defensive coordinators, Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel. During the preseason, the transition to 34-year-old Eric Mangini on defense and a committee approach on offense anchored by quarterback coach Josh McDaniels seemed to work fine, but it is the effectiveness of their game plans and play calling when their opponents are scheming to beat them that will reveal how smoothly the transition has been made.

If that were the only changes it might not be so bad, but New England is also coping for the first time with personnel losses not of its own choosing. The departure of Lawyer Milloy, Damian Woody, Drew Bledsoe and this year Ty Law were decisions the Pats made. That is not the case with the sudden loss of both starting inside linebackers, Tedy Bruschi and Ted Johnson. Bruschi suffered an off-season stroke and Johnson quit due to problems from repeated concussions. They have been replaced by free agents Chad Brown and Monty Beisel, neither of whom have played regularly on the inside in a 3-4 front.

New England returns nine starters on defense, but Bruschi has been the heart of their defense and a guy who seems to make plays at the most crucial of moments. As yet neither Brown or Beisel, who are learning both a new defense and new positions, have shown an affinity for that. The hope was Mike Vrabel might slide inside as well, but he was injured in the first pre-season game and used sparingly for the remainder of the summer. He'll be available when the Patriots open defense of their third Super Bowl title in four years against the Raiders, but he too is short on experience there so it's all uncharted territory in the heart of New England's defense.

Belichick has been rightly given much praise for his coaching ability and it has always been hinted that he had much to do with the defense while also working with quarterback Tom Brady, but unless Weis and Crennel were only along for the ride, his work load will be difficult to manage this season. Belichick must monitor the game planning and playcalling of Mangini, who will be calling the defensive plays for the first time, while also trying to run the offense by committee. The saying is a zebra is a horse made by committee. What kind of an offense gets built in the same fashion? No telling but having Brady running those plays will ease the situation.

HOT SEAT: Monty Beisel and Chad Brown. They've been brought in to replace the charismatic Bruschi and the reliable run-stuffing Johnson. Any slippage defensively and they'll be the first people everyone looks at. It is worrisome that Brown, 35, has been oft-injured the past three years as well as being asked to play out of his comfort zone. Beisel is a converted college defensive end who started for the first time last season in Kansas City as a middle linebacker and on the outside but not as a 3-4 inside backer. He has speed but his inexperience often leads him to the wrong places in a hurry.

OVERHEARD: Right up to the final exhibition game, Belichick was looking to upgrade his wide receiving corps, trading a fifth-round choice to Cleveland for former No. 2 pick for Andre Davis, then talking with Peerless Price after he was cut by Atlanta. It appears Belichick is not happy with his third receiver despite having 12 wideouts in camp, including veterans Tim Dwight and David Terrell. Terrell was a disappointment (and subsequently cut) but the real fear was that Troy Brown had begun to slow after 12 years of running the hard routes in the middle on third down and young Bethel Johnson failed to blossom. The hunt continues at this point to upgrade the position.

OUTLOOK: When you win three of the past four Super Bowls how can you be anything but the favorite to win the division and return to the playoffs? New England has some holes but until someone beats Brady in the playoffs, his team has to be favored.

PREDICTION: First.

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