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Tim Wright Will Be X-Factor For New England Patriots In Week 6

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By @petahrahgas

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The New England Patriots we all know and love are back, and just in time to silence Brandon Spikes and that horrible team he calls home. But I can’t actually do my usual hating on the Buffalo Bills since both the Pats and Bills have a 3-2 record and this game will be the battle for the AFC East. God, that is weird to say. Can’t we go back to a time where the Patriots had no competition in the East? Please?

Originally, I wanted to make rookie center Brian Stork my x-factor for this game. He’ll again be facing tough competition in Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus, who is coming off a monster three-sack game. But then I remembered the offensive line isn’t sexy and no one would want to read about a center.

Instead, I turn to the once elusive but, now promising tight end Tim Wright.

Wright probably received the most animosity of any player coming to the Patriots in recent history. And it wasn’t because he’s a bad player, but simply because the Pats sent away offensive guard/the beast of the O-line Logan Mankins to get him (and a fourth-round pick). Not many Patriots fans liked that trade.

But now that we’ve been able to see what Wright can do, I think people are easing up on the young tight end. He’s certainly made an impression with Bill Belichick, which is always good for playtime:

All that hard work certainly paid off as Wright, after being quiet for most of the season, broke out in a big away against Cincinnati Bengals Sunday night, catching five balls for 85 yards and a touchdown. His skills and abilities allowed the Patriots to return to two tight-end formations that worked extremely well against the Bengals and helped finally get the struggling offense back on track.

I would expect Josh McDaniels and the Patriots’ offense to have a similar game plan going into Buffalo and much of the two tight-end success will hinge on Tim Wright. The Bills’ defense has been good so far this season at neutralizing tight ends, but let’s not forget they have to worry about Rob Gronkowski first. With all the attention on Gronk, Wright has all the makings for a big day Sunday.

Peter Rogers is a New England Patriots writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @petahrahgas, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google

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