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It was a lot more enjoyable this week finding three plays to GIF that defined the victory over the Bengals. Of course I could’ve just chosen horrible penalty calls but we’ll stick with plays the Patriots actually made.

We start with the first play of the game, a 20-yard play action completion to Brandon LaFell. For all the criticism the Pats took last week for trying to pass right out of the gate, this play set the tone for the entire game and gave the Pats their first non-three-and-out first possession this season.

There were quite a few defensive plays to choose from, especially on third down where the Bengals didn’t convert one all day. Here is a key third down stop on the Bengals first possession of the second half. A touchdown drive here might’ve made a game out of it, but the Pats went aggressive with press man and no one could get open. Just watch Arrington attack the receiver at the top of the screen. That disrupts the whole timing of the play. Beautiful work on defense.

Finally we go with the Gronk’s 17-yard touchdown catch where he looke like the Gronk of old, even as the safety dove at his knees, Gronk didn’t even flinch. Each week Gronk is getting closer to his old self and this play is a reminder what a weapon he is.

Previous Three GIFs:

Well, well, well, so the Patriots don’t suck after all. I’ve been enjoying the afterglow for the last 15 hours and going back to look at the game was every bit as sweet as I thought it would be.

This looked like the Patriots team we’re used to seeing. They played with an edge and though it wasn’t a perfect night by any stretch of the imagination, it’s clear that the 2014 Patriots will be in the thick of the AFC hunt once again.

The penalties were an absolute disgrace but it didn’t even matter. The Pats were ready to steamroll the Bengals despite 12 penalties for 112 yards. Honestly the penalties didn’t even bother me that much – the Pats were pissed off and I’ll take that edge every Sunday.

The offensive line had an excellent night. The downfield blocking opened up a ton of seams and the result was an explosive ground game that put up over 200 yards after struggling to get more than 3.5 yards-per-carry the last couple weeks.

For a guy we wrote off as “just a center” Ryan Wendell was a godsend at right guard. The quickness and ability to sustain blocks downfield was apparent all night long. Not to mention the pass protection which allowed just one sack. And on that one it was more of a coverage sack as Brady couldn’t find anyone open and Gronk couldn’t hold his block.

And how about Gronk? He’s slowly shaping into that best tight end in the NFL we remember. Kind of funny for all the “Brady has no weapons talk”, I guess everyone forgot Gronk is actually one of the best weapons in the game?

Tim Wright starting to come around as well. As I’ve said before he just looks like the kind of player that is the perfect fit for the Pats, and he’s still not even playing that much – 19 of 84 snaps.

Brandon LaFell is another one who just seems to fit and Brady seems to be developing more and more confidence each week in him. Is he a downfield homerun hitter? No but he’s a blocking beast and brings size and physicality to the short-to-intermediate zones that are the Pats bread and butter.

Ridley and Vereen looked like the backs we expect them to be and of course a lot of it had to do with the blocking.

I said it all last week, and here was Darrelle Revis on full display. What a night for him and luckily it doesn’t appear that his injury was anything that will keep him out. That was a “best corner in football” showing last night.

Not to mention how huge getting Alfonzo Dennard back was. It’s great to have one corner who can play press but having that second outside guy who can do it opens up so many doors. I can only imagine what it looks like with Browner in the mix as well.

Kyle Arrington doesn’t get a ton of love, but he’s as good of a slot corner as there is out there. His physicality at the line of scrimmage continues to impress.

Bounce-back game for Jerod Mayo who looked good stopping the run from the sub defense, one of the big keys for this game. Jamie Collins had a good game as well, as the heavy amount of sub played into his strengths.

He played just 14 snaps but new DL Chris Walker showed up a couple times causing disruption in the middle. He could be a real find with Siliga out.

Chris Jones again showed some positive progress this week, picking up the first sack the Bengals have allowed this year. Now that he can be a rotational player he’s starting to show up both getting upfield and holding his ground.

Pats are starting to get dinged up – Hightower/Ebner were inactive, Easley and McCourty left the game and didn’t return, Chandler Jones was limited with a shoulder injury and Revis left the game with a hamstring issue but returned. How these injuries play out with two big divisional games in the next 10 days will be something to monitor.

Finally I’ll wrap this up with a comment about Tom Brady. So good to see him so comfortable in the pocket. He just had a spring in his step that instantly demonstrated he was on for this one. We can debate who’s elite or declining and all that stuff, but the simple fact is Tom Brady is still really good and still a quarterback you can win a Super Bowl with.

Three GIFs coming later today…