I guess I will be a scrooge, but #3 and #6 are questionable.
#3 For the New England offensive line to hold the Giants’ defense to just one sack — without the starting right guard Stephen Neal and starting right tackle Nick Kaczur — was impressive.
They were horrid for most of the night, Light was dominated and Hochstein looked plain lost. Brady may not have been sacked but he was hammered and constantly forced to make quick throws. The running game was effective enough, when Maroney got a hole he looked really good. But several times going against a light box (6 men) the O Line could not move the line of scrimmage. Watson helped with some of his chip blocks but when asked to lineup in-line he was destroyed. Mankins was the only saving grace, guards don't get their due but look at the last Maroney TD, he pushed his man all the way to the other side of the formation.
6. New England’s red-zone defense still isn’t where they want it to be.
Not just red-zone, overall defense has to improve. Eli fricking Manning looked damn good against them. He carved them up in the two minute drill. Some way or how they also must learn to cover a TE and tackle.
A top 10 list is nice, but really it starts and ends with Brady being the best clutch performer in Boston sports history.