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Pats Posits: Tom Brady, Legend

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The Patriots dominated the Rams 26-10 Sunday, nabbing Tom Brady his NFL-record 201st win and closing out the third quarter of the 2016 season at 10-2.

Of course there’s plenty of #YBITR (yeah but it’s the Rams) disclaimers, but still, the Patriots handled an inferior team at home as we expect them to and looked very much like a balanced contender.

Unfortunately, Gronk wasn’t the last injury buzz kill of the last week, with Danny Amendola (seen leaving on crutches in a walking boot) headlining those who left and didn’t return.

Now, the Patriots face a 7-5 Ravens team that has won four-of-five and always plays them tough, even in Foxborough.

More on that, win #201 and the AFC home field playoff chase with the Raiders in the Posits…

— Where else can you start but TFB’s 201st? The Tom Brady lovefest will only grow from here. Finally, Brady is on stage without Peyton Manning. Since 2003 it was Brady vs. Manning. That was everything in the NFL, even when it was Eli Manning. Now Peytons gone and we everyone has no choice but to acknowledge what they’re seeing. And there’s no sign of slowing down. Thank you Tom Brady. What a privilege to be a fan of the team lucky enough to cheer him on every weekend. Countless times he’s grabbed victory from the jaws of sure defeat. What an exciting ride it’s been and it’s still going!! #250orBust

— I know there will be concern and possibly a few complaints about the offense this week, but I think they executed what they needed to early on — the running game — and once they got the lead they pulled back a bit. I think they exhibited just how many weapons they still have without Gronkowski. Obviously it’s a bit of an adjustment period, but the emergence of the three-headed monster at running back shows how the Pats can offset losing Gronk.

— I just pray to the Football Gods we can keep Dion Lewis for a playoff run. He’s every bit as electric as he was in 2015 and he’s only getting better. What frightens me is that yes, he makes a lot of people miss, but it often results in multiple hard hits taken. Those add up to injuries eventually. He needs to pick his spots and do a better job of protecting himself, even at the expense of the extra yard here and there.

blount— LeGarrette Blount is about to break 1,000 yards and is one TD away from Curtis Martin‘s single season touchdown record (14). I shudder to think what a hit the offense would take if Blount went down. It might be an even worse blow than losing Gronk. He’s on an impressive pace and when he gets rolling early, the Pats’ offense blossoms. The later running game struggles trickled down through the whole offense.

— Malcolm Mitchell had a career day with eight catches on 10 targets for 82 yards. Between Mitchell and Chris Hogan (four catches, 23 yards, TD) the Patriots have two outside threats. The rookie’s development is giving a much-needed boost to a wide receiver corps that was getting old. The Patriots offense doesn’t have one guy to key on outside of Edelman now, but all are coming through at various times and that makes them hard to stop. Someone will be open, and Brady trusts everyone.

— I was disappointed to see such a poor game from Martellus Bennett (two holding penalties, two catches, four yards). He almost had a touchdown as well if not for a very good defensive play by the Rams’ cornerback though. Clearly he’s not 100 percent and the extra day of rest this week before MNF should hopefully help. The Patriots need him back in September form when he was the team MVP through the first quarter of the season.

— Can’t wait to take a closer look at the protection against Aaron Donald, but he had a quiet day and the offensive line deserves a ton of credit. Donald had just three tackles and one QB hit.

— The offensive performance wasn’t perfect, they stalled in Rams territory too many times, raising concerns about their red zone finish ability without the best red zone weapon in NFL history. Five receivers had at least four receptions, and that didn’t include Amendola or Bennett. Brady is making it work with the new guys as Edelman returns to unstoppable mode. The trajectory is good, if they can just get Bennett/Amendola healthy and stay healthy.

— I know. I’m not going to start trying to convince anyone that this is the kind of defensive performance will definitely show up for the next seven games. Monday night’s visit from Flacco should reveal a lot more than this stinkfest from the Rams did. But how can you not love a 1-12 third down performance?

— They were on pace to set a team record for fewest yards allowed when a blown zone coverage allowed a 66-yard completion and subsequent touchdown. That was just a touch of the ugly and I’m sure BB is going to rip them a new one over it.

— The pressure was nice to see (#YWITR), ending up with four sacks and nine QB hits. Logan Ryan was sent on a slot blitz at least a couple times as there finally seemed to be a real attempt to make a passer uncomfortable. Where have those games been against the competent offenses lately?

— Seems like Ninkovich and Chris Long are starting to find their stride a bit the last few games. The defense has settled into a rotation they look comfortable with and that continuity is breeding turnovers (+2). This is their best two-week stretch generating takeaways since Weeks Two/Three. It must continue, especially against Flacco’s underthrown PI attempts.

— Kyle Van Noy seems to really be settling in. He’s been doing a lot of running back coverage that I’ve noticed, while it’s his pass rushing potential most seem to be talking about. He picked up an interception and it’s good to know the Pats have his rights for another year after this one.

— The Patriots best players played their best in this game. Jabaal Sheard, Ninkovich, Hightower, Long, Flowers and even Shea McClellin were making plays. That’s what has been missing. I know #YBITR, but we’ve seen it before where the vets take a little while to really settle into their games. Hopefully this game is just the boost they needed.

— Amendola is probably going to miss time after the reports he was booted and on crutches after the game. The Pats will miss his clutch catches and punt return ability. They still have the depth with Mitchell, Hogan and Edelman to run 11 personnel, but Amendola gave them more flexibility.

— Amendola shouldn’t even had been in there returning punts if not for another Cyrus Jones muff. Now do we put Jones back in there, against Baltimore, IN DENVER??? Or put Edelman in and expose him to further punishment? Not good and it’s easy to see how injuries can snowball.

— I’d still like to get more looks at Cyrus at cornerback. He came on the outside after Eric Rowe pulled himself out with a hamstring issue. He needs to reset and get comfortable, but he might not have the chance. Might take an offseason for Cyrus to get on track. And if Rowe can’t go we might find out just how far Justin Coleman has fallen.

— Great day for Stephen Gostkowski was perfect on the day (four FGs, two XPs). It was a nice side effect of the offense’s struggles on the Rams side of the field from the second quarter on.

If the Patriots and Raiders win out, the Raiders would get homefield. But I’m really not worried about that much. Oakland’s schedule is no cake walk (@ KC, @ SD, IND, @DEN), with their three divisional road games, always the hardest games of the season against teams that know you well.

I think we’ll know a ton more about this Patriots team after the next two weeks. These two games (BAL, @ DEN) will set the bar of expectations. Beat two of the better AFC teams, including one in their personal house of horrors and the Pats will look like strong AFC favorites. Lose one or both and the Pats will be headed down the same path 2015 took, a rare late-season descent.

Baltimore looks like the tougher challenge, though they’re a different team on the road no matter how many times they’ve played the Pats hard in Foxborough. And after the last three fluky losses in Denver I never expect anything to be easy there. That one would be a great boost in victory and set the Pats up for the final stretch.

The Ravens boast the best run defense in the NFL, and that means the Pats will likely counter with a heavy dose of Lewis and White. Flacco is a legitimate quarterback who has been generally comfortable against the MP/BB defense. We’ll see if this version can get him uncomfortable.

Finally, the real season has arrived and we get to do it on Monday Night Football against the Ravens for the first time since they started the ball rolling on Deflategate!

hogan

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