So as the Pats go into the bye week at the mid-point mark of the season they sit at 5-3 atop the AFC East with the 3rd best record in the AFC. They lead the NFL in scoring at 32.5 PPG (on pace for 524 points, second only to the 2007 team) and in offense at over 452 YPG. The team is averaging just under 150 yards rushing per game, and is on pace for the most yards rushing yards in the BB era. The defense is averaging 21.5 PPG, and is giving up less than 90 yards per game rushing. Tom Brady is on pace for 4800 yards passing and 32 TDs vs. only 6 INTs. Wes Welker is on pace for 120 receptions and 1400 yards. Rob Gronkowski is on pace for 80+ receptions and almost 1200 yards receiving and 14 TDs. Stevan Ridley is on pace for 1400 yards rushing and 1500 yards from scrimmage. Chandler Jones is on pace for 12 sacks and 6 forced fumbles. Jerod Mayo is on pace for 160 tackles, and has been making for impact plays than in years past. The defense has 11 fumble recoveries and 9 interceptions so far on the season.
And this is while Logan Mankins, Sebastian Vollmer, Dan Connolly, Rob Grohkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Wes Welker, Brandon Bolden, Dont'a Hightower, Steve Gregory, Patrick Chung and Ras-I Dowling have missed considerable time and/or played at less than 100%. The OL and secondary have resembled MASH units. The offense has had to make due to different skill players each week, so it's not surprising that there have been some issues with execution and consistency. But in spite of it all the results are still pretty impression, and the team is still in pretty decent shape.
Lesser teams fold. The really good ones are tempered by adversity and are forged into champions. It's too soon to tell if that will be the case with the Pats, but so far they seem to be weathering the storm in pretty decent fashion.