Patriots Pulse Check: We May Never Lose Again

Just two and a half months ago, after one of the more embarrassing Patriot losses in recent memory (which is saying something), fumbling 1200 times in a one score loss to Pittsburgh at home to go to 1-2 on the season, I thought we were in for another long year. I thought my fears and doubts that I suppressed and buried in the back of my brain were all coming true, and the old Green Day song starting playing in my head, replacing the title lyric with December.

But 10 weeks later, after the Pats' 10th straight win, with Drake Maye possibly surpassing Matthew Stafford in the MVP race, with the Patriots sitting atop not only the AFC but the entire NFL at 11-2, New England and Pats fans around the world are feeling more like Anne Marie.

2002 was the start of it all. On February 3rd, 2002, the New England Patriots, led by second year QB Tom "GOAT" Brady, defeated the then St. Louis Rams to capture our first Super Bowl and jumpstart the greatest dynasty any team sport as ever seen.

Fast forward to today, and New England finds itself in a similar spot. Led by second year QB Drake "Drake Maye" Maye, the Patriots are the odds on favorite to find themselves in the Super Bowl to play, you guessed it, the Los Angeles Rams (according to the odds and my eyeballs).

Time really is a flat circle, huh?

The Game

This Patriots team is awesome. On what was such an obvious let down spot, the week before their long-awaited bye, fresh off Thanksgiving dinner, against a scrappy Giants team, after two consecutive let down spots in which they didn't let down, the Pats yet again didn't let down.

Not only did they not let down, they lifted up and kicked the shit out of the Giants, as they've done to nearly every inferior team media pundits are still quick to point out they've played all season.

This game was over before Californians got home from the office. After one of the league leaders in offensive red zone appearances once again walked the ball inside the 10 yard line on our opening drive, one of the worst offensive red zone converters settled for an opening drive FG.

Then the flood gates opened.

A rare first possession stop was met with Marcus Aurelius Jones cementing himself as the 6th Good Emperor, or at least the best punt returner of all time (with respect to Devin Hester, numbers are numbers), with his 3rd punt return TD of his career and second of the season.

A Giants three and out was quickly followed by a 5-play, 61-yard TD drive by the Pats. And from there it was a mere formality, with more time spent talking about Joe Buck's Good Morning America appearance than the play on the field. A perfect game to watch the Manningcast to pass the time before the clock struck 0.

Prevailing Thoughts

• I loved how aggressive we came out for this game. It would've been easy to coast into the bye week with a 2-10 team whose franchise is falling apart with every passing week coming to town. But from the opening jump we hit, and hit hard, were aggressive throwing the ball down the field, and left no doubt to the national audience that we'll play anyone, anywhere, anytime. Hats off to the coaching staff.

  
  

• Speaking of which, Mike Vrabel deserves all the love he's getting. But I want to continue to shower Josh McDaniels with praise. For all that Drake Maye is, much of it is to do with the guy whispering in his ear. He continues to draw up creative plays, scheme guys open, maintain a balanced attack, and give Drake the confidence to play loose but with composure. I can't say enough good things about him, and will continue to shout him out every Pats blog I write.

  
  

• For the first time this year (in my mind), the Patriots are legitimate front runners to win the Super Bowl. The NFL's elite coming into the season are no longer elite. The Chiefs may not make the playoffs. The Ravens probably will but shouldn't. The Bills might be okay, but okay is as far as I'll go. The Rams lost to the Panthers and the Eagles got demolished by the Bears. The only team that has been consistently great all year is New England, whether you like it or not.

  
  

• We can call it constructive criticism instead of a complaint, but the one thing that needs to improve before the playoffs is our red zone efficiency. We get there no problem, but ranking 24th in the league and converting a smidge more than half our trips into TDs isn't going to cut it in January. I have faith McDaniels will figure it out.

  
  

• Since it likely won't be mentioned too often today, the Patriots are pretty banged up. We were without the left side of our offensive line (guard and tackle) last night, as well as two of our three best defensive lineman in Milton Williams and Tonga. The last few weeks we've been without our RB1 and WR2. So while everyone points out the schedule, or how some of the better teams we've played were injured, we are too buddy. We are too. We're just better at overcoming adversity I guess.

• The throwback unis are so sweet. So, so sweet. I wish they weren’t associated with the Patriots of old who went 2-14 every other year, cause I want to wear them every week.

Off to our much needed bye week. See you in a few weeks.