The New England Patriots got in the Wayback Machine on Sunday and spun the dial back to 2001.
Complementary football?
Play-making defense, field-tipping special teams, and just enough offense to set up a money field goal kicker to seal the win. Checked all the boxes in this one.
Mental toughness?
It isn't like they didn't make mistakes. Kendrick Bourne's fumble cost them at least 3 points. Mac Jones barely cleared the 50% completion mark (18/25/211/0/0). But they also played a relentless, physical, full 60 minutes of football; playing their best when it mattered most. Despite the garbage time TD, they dominated the 4th quarter. Adrian Phillips took his second INT of the game to the house with a little over 10 minutes to play. The defense then forced a three and out on the Chargers next possession. The Patriots offense took over with 9 minutes and change left on the clock. Mac Jones had struggled after a brilliant opening TD drive but he was dropping dimes as New England ran off 6:56 on a 14-play, game-sealing drive that ended with yet another Nick Folk Hero field goal.
New England flew across the country and beat a quality opponent to even their record at 4-4-0.
Maybe those close losses to Tampa Bay and Dallas were a better indication of what this team can be than even the most glass-half-fullest of us thought. Maybe this defense can carry them into the playoffs. Maybe that rushing attack led by Damien Harris is pretty good, after all. Maybe I'll actually remember how to spell "Olszewski" without looking it up before this season is over. (Ols-zew-ski, Ols-zew-ski, Ols-zew-ski.) Oh, and for all the haters out there, I guess those two wins over the Jets don't look so bad now, do they? (Asking for a friend who lives in Cincinnati.)
Not to get too far ahead of ourselves but it's hard not to get too far ahead of ourselves after a win like this one. I couldn't help but look ahead at the upcoming schedule…
Carolina Panthers - Another roadie and the Patriots cannot afford a letdown against the bipolar Panthers. They beat a better team in the Chargers and should take home the W here. I expect a big bounceback game from Mac Jones in this one.
Cleveland Browns - Somebody in Cleveland did something really, really bad once upon a time and their football team has been paying off the debt forever. As long as they can keep Myles Garrett from killing Mac Jones, they should get their second home win of the season.
Atlanta Falcons - You have to feel sorry for Matt Ryan. He's played so well for so long with so little to show for it. He has to miss Julio Jones. And now Calvin Ridley is out. But you should also fear Matt Ryan. He'll play you one-handed if he has to. Still, another winnable roadie for the Men of Belichick.
Tennessee Titans - A tough team to beat, even at home, and even if they're without King Henry. I like Nick Folk kicking the game-winning field goal as time expires in this one.
And that would put the Patriots at 8-4-0 when they shuffle off to Buffalo, and no, I can't predict a New England win in that one.
If the playoffs started today - yes, I'm talkin' playoffs - New England's players would be watching from their couches. But the playoffs don't start today. And 11-6-0 still looks like a possibility on this fine first day of November.
Let's go!
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