Sorry Pats haters, it looks like the Patriots might be just getting back into form, and this great dynasty may not be over just yet. With the return of Julian Edelman in week five, the Patriots receiving core should be a force to be reckoned with. Now, if the defense could just repeat what they did against the Dolphins in week four, the Patriots should be borderline unstoppable.
After allowing just seven points in the dying minutes of the 4^th quarter, the Patriots defense seemed to have all the answers to the undefeated Dolphins offense in week four. One of the Patriots biggest issues this season has been points against, and for the first time this year the Patriots defense allowed less than twenty points. As encouraging as that may sound, the Pats’ defense must show they can do it for more than one week and prove it wasn’t just a fluke.
Up until week four, the Patriots offense had struggled as well, and, dare I say it, Tom Brady has looked a bit shaky. Last season Brady threw eight interceptions throughout the entire regular season, and through four games this season Brady has already thrown four interceptions. So, is Brady declining? or is this just the typical early season struggle we have become accustomed to seeing from the Patriots?
If you think back to 2014, there were people who thought that Brady’s career was basically over, and that Jimmy Garoppolo should take over as starting quarterback. If I remember correctly, the Pats went onto win the super bowl that year. So, I think it’s fair that we should give the greatest quarterback of all time a shot to prove everyone wrong again, that he is still as good as ever. Let’s not forget Brady also gets his number 1 security blanket back in Julian Edelman from here on out.
There is enough proof in the past that just having Brady and Belichick is good enough to get you a playoff spot in the AFC. However, there has not ever been a time when the Patriots have won a Super Bowl with a lackluster defense. Right now, it is difficult to dictate where this Patriots defense lands on the spectrum of good or bad considering their performances in the first four weeks. With that said, if they can show up every week like they did against the Dolphins, then they will be golden.
As many of us already know, it is foolish to count out Patriots at any point, because they have proved everyone wrong on almost every occasion. Just remember, the last time they counted the Patriots out, the Pats went on to win the Super Bowl. However, the defense is still the team’s biggest wild card, and without a functioning defense the Patriots will have a real hard time winning a super bowl, just as they failed to win against the Giants and the Eagles.