By Staff Writer: Jacob Mattox
The New England Patriots are well on their way to what most would call a successful season. With a record of 11 wins and 2 losses, the Patriots have established themselves as one of the top teams in the AFC. After several seasons of what most would call “rebuilding,” it seems they have restored the organization’s expectations of winning.
A major contributor to the team’s success this season is a revamped offense. This offense has been in a rhythm that has carried them to victory through some of the NFL’s toughest matchups. The Patriots have developed a much more efficient system with a heavy focus on quick decision-making, a balanced run-pass attack, and limitation of turnovers. This consistency has played a major role in their success up until this point in the season. This is something that Patriot fans have been missing since the departure of quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick.
The defensive unit has also seemed to have restored itself to its peak performance, which was a key piece to their sustained success in the past. This year’s unit has proven its ability to stop both run and passing attacks as well as make critical plays down the stretch in close games.
The Patriots’ 11-2 record has positioned them at the top of the AFC East, which suggests they are a top playoff contender. The franchise that has won multiple championships looks to retain the top seed, which would grant home-field advantage come playoff time.