Can New England Patriots Continue to Play Lights Out After Bye Week?
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
The bye week is a perfect opportunity for players to tend their wounds and relax, but it also allows extended time to prepare for the next opponent. For the New England Patriots, that is the Indianapolis Colts – one of the best teams in the NFL.
The Patriots have been playing exceptionally well for over a month, but their rough start is still fresh in the minds of many. The concern as we inch closer to Sunday’s 8:30 p.m. kickoff is whether or not the Patriots will pick up where they left off, or fall back into their abysmal Week 1 selves.
For a team that has struggled with consistency over the past several seasons, the Patriots have managed to remain consistent in the best of ways since their embarrassing Monday Night Football loss against the Kansas City Chiefs. Since this time, New England has easily been the best team in the league and have shown no signs of slowing down. The bye week is the best opportunity for doubters and haters to find a reason why New England won’t keep pace, but as of now, there is no indication that the Patriots won’t come out swinging on Sunday night.
New England has all the ingredients needed to be a Super Bowl contender: future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady, coaching mastermind Bill Belichick and a defense that just won’t quit, led by cornerback Darrelle Revis and defensive tackle Vince Wilfork. Additionally, Brady’s outstanding October play has turned a pathetic offense into one of the best in the entire NFL.
For some teams, the first game after a bye week means rust, inconsistency and exhaustion, but the Patriots have proved in the past several weeks that they only plan on moving forward as they enter the second half of the regular season.
Kayleigh Hagenbuch is a New England Patriots writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow her on Twitter, “Like” her on Facebook or add her to your network on Google.
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