Looking At The Patriots - 2018

National mediots are saying that with the win over the Chiefs the Pats have proven once again they are still the class of the AFC.

”The Patriots proved they’re still the team to beat in the AFC after a Sunday night takedown of the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs are loaded on offense yet play little to no defense. New England may not feature the league’s best defense. However, it can at least stop someone once or twice. Plus, the Patriots offense is only going to get better as Josh Gordon and Julian Edelman become more comfortable.”

The AFC’s big bad is still big and bad.

What a game.

2nd - Joshua Schrock (NESN): Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs shredded New England’s defense, but Brady saved the day by engineering a game-winning drive to once again assert the Patriots’ dominance in the AFC.

2nd - Rebecca Toback (SB Nation): The Patriots proved on Sunday that we were all crazy for doubting them during their 1-2 start to the season. New England beat Kansas City on Sunday Night Football in the shootout we all expected . It was a thriller that has the Patriots climbing up the Week 7 NFL power rankings and landing at the No. 2 spot, right ahead of the Chiefs . The Chiefs fought hard and almost staged an impressive comeback, but you can never count out Tom Brady and he proved to be the guy you want leading a game-winning fourth-quarter drive .

2nd - Staff (AP Pro32).

3rd - Frank Schwab (Yahoo! Sports): There were so many things to like about Sunday night’s game, but let’s not overlook kicker Stephen Gostkowski. He hit all nine kicks (five field goals, four extra points) and there was no doubt that he’d hit the game-winner as time expired. There’s something to be said about having a reliable kicker.

3rd - Mark Maske (Washington Post): Remember that 1-2 start to the season? It’s a fading memory now. The Patriots have totaled 119 points while winning their last three games. The return of Julian Edelman and the addition of Josh Gordon have fixed the problems at WR. Now comes a trip to Chicago to face a Bears defense that ranks among the league’s best but couldn’t stop Brock Osweiler on Sunday in Miami.

3rd - Pete Prisco (CBS Sports): They showed they could play with anybody in the league by beating the Chiefs. Getting the running game going is big for the offense.

3rd - Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk): Go ahead and make those reservations for Atlanta in early February.

5th - Bryan Fischer (Athlon Sports): Lost amid the furor of that wild win over the Chiefs was the fact that the Pats rushed for 173 yards. Given the limitations on defense, that’s a trend that will only help make this offense more dangerous and allow them to win shootouts and physical battles all the same.

Week 7 Average Rank: 2.5 (+1.9)


SB NATION SAMPLING:

2nd - Brandon Lee Gowton (BleedingGreenNation): Still the kings of the AFC. Bill Belichick is now 6-2 against Andy Reid.

2nd - David Fucillo (NinersNation)

Rams are in 1st.
The Pats are tied with the Saints for 2nd in power rankings in the national poll. That shouldn’t last long since the Saints next 6 games (Ravens, Vikings, Bengals, Rams, Eagles, Falcons) are brutal for them and their D is worse than ours. Brees has been magnificent but he can’t continue to overcome his lousy defense.
Prediction: When the Rams lose a game the Patriots will be #1.