Testing Mettle

I've been staring at it all week. 1-2-0 vs. 3-0-0. There was something strange about it. Something that made me wonder, am I awake or dreaming? Had I slipped into an alternate universe? What did it mean? It was like every day this week was Monday and I was driving to work without any pants and when I got into the office only I seemed to realize something was wrong. I may be older and I was never Brad Pitt but I'd still like people to notice when I'm not wearing pants.

It's easy to fall back on the old conceits: We've seen this Patriots Movie before. The September Stumble. On to Cincinnati. Duck boats. For those of us east of the Connecticut River it has been the ultimate repeatable experience. Next man up. Do your job. Let's go!

I've seen the Patriots get up off the canvas as the referee was counting 8. I've seen them win with less talent. I've seen them win with wide receivers playing defensive back.

Will I be shocked if New England wins convincingly this Sunday?

No.

Am I utterly confident in the outcome?

No.

In a previous post I described this Week 4 game as a must win. Technically, it isn't, of course.

It is, though, a "must play better" game.

Okay, maybe it isn't even that.

In another week Julian Edelman returns. Those warning that Edelman alone won't solve all the Patriots problems on offense apparently don't know anything about Chaos Theory. Maybe Josh Gordon's hamstring is healed in another week, too. You know, in case the Patriots offense isn't as sensitive to initial conditions as I think it is.

But that's a soft-focus future and this is a hard-edged now.

Key players are hurt; at worst on IR, at best limited in practice and questionable for this Sunday. Next man up is all well and good till you don't have a next man on the roster.

Somehow this remains a secondary narrative as pigskin pundits and bobbleheads continue to gnaw at the bones of the palace intrigue at 1 Patriots Place. Is Tom Brady sulking? Did Bill Belichick trade or give away Brady's weapons to spite Robert Kraft for forcing Belichick to trade Jimmy G and keep Brady? (Seriously, two of the most competitive men in the history of sport were really just mean girls all along. That's the story.) Yeah, I get it. These are the Patriots and this is the NFL, the ultimate reality show. Gruden and the Raiders. Khalil Mack and the Browns. The dysfunctional family that is the Pittsburgh Steelers. Baker Mayfield and the suddenly relevant Browns. The Rams evolutionary genius. The laser cannon arm of Pat Mahomes II. Fitzmagic. The return of Carson Wentz. Aaron Rodgers as Captain Ahab, chasing the white whale of a Super Bowl on one leg. Who thought roughing the passer would eclipse leading with the helmet as the most controversial call of 2018? The peripatetic Dez Bryant. The sneaker-selling Colin Kaepernick. I could go on. It's an embarrassment of social media riches for NFL with the New England Patriots featured as the Kardashians.

Looking back over the past 18 years, it's tempting to say again, Sunday we find out if the Patriots are still the Patriots. It may be wishful thinking but here's how I'd like to see it play out…

The Defense Creates 3 Turnovers

The Pats defense can't just stop the run; they have to force fumbles. They need to get after Ryan Tannehill while keeping him in the pocket, make him force throws or take the sack. Brian Flores is going to need to dial up some blitzes and they have to work.

Sony Michel Makes an Opening Bid for Offensive ROY

The Patriots need to control the ball not so much as the key to beating the Dolphins as much as to erase the memories of those three consecutive 3 and outs that started (or finished) the Lions game. Michel needs to put his mark on this game running and catching the football. The Patriots need to keep their defense fresh and give Tom Brady a play action game the Dolphins defense has to honor.

Josh Gordon Makes an Opening Bid for Comeback Player of the Year

The Dolphins will double or triple Rob Gronkowski. They will force Phillip Dorsett and Chris Hogan to beat man coverage. Someone will need to hire a private investigator to find out what happened to Cordarrelle Patterson. Somehow, getting big games from any of those three wide receivers feels like a longer shot than Gordon making an impact in his first game with the Patriots.

If he plays, of course.

Special Teams Need to be Special

Patterson may not be making the impact on offense the Pats had hoped for but he can still be relevant to the outcome in the kicking game. Stephen Gostkowski and Ryan Allen need to help New England win the battle for field position. A blocked Miami punt would be nice, too.

Tom Brady Must Be Tom Brady

It's a lot to ask, but this Sunday the Patriots need the Tom Brady who made Reche Caldwell look like a credible NFL receiver.

Unless Josh Gordon plays.

Go Pats!