Top Ten....easily........but......I'm conflicted when deciding if the NE defense is actually elite. No question they are playing great. Their stoutness up the middle is the biggest surprise to me. ....that and Butler's tenacity. My apprehension has to do with the level of competition vs. NE....and the quality of the entire league overall.
Lets focus on the AFC QBs .....in descending order of QB rating (* vs NE)
Dalton
Brady
Taylor **
Big Ben*
Carr
Smith
Rivers
McCown
Hoyer *
Mariota*
Fitzpatrick**
Bortles*
Tannehill **
Hasselback
Osweiller*
Flacko
Luck*
Manning
With the exception of Big Ben and Luck (being generous), NE has faced a fleet of crappy, inexperienced, crappy and inexperienced QBs...in the AFC.
Factor in Weeden, Cousins, Manning, Bradford from the NFC......the Patriots haven't been lining up against too many elite QBs all year...........I count ONE........Big Ben
Of course...none of this is NE's fault....you play who is scheduled.....and lets be honest......QB play around the league has slipped this year and many of the perennial QB studs are struggling at times.....Rodgers, Luck, Brees, PayMeATon (all the time). The fact that Dalton and Carson sit atop of the conference in QB rating tells me which team is stacked with weapons, not great QBs
Last night.....BB and Company schemed the crap out of Houston, especially on Offense ...and coaching wise, BB schooled the amateurs. I expect a similar mismatch of brains next week.
The Jets game will be NE's last real test against a team I view as much more physical than NE. This will be a test for our defense in its depleted condition. Marshall and Decker are peaking right now. Lets hope NE's pass rush can get after Fitzy like last night. I love it when defenses dominate games like last night. They definitely are trending towards elite....lets close the deal
