PFW Analysis:

Rob Gronkowski has been more and more involved in recent weeks and has been building momentum as a result. In Buffalo he appeared to be all the way back as he showed the ability to get downfield really for the first time all year. Gronk finished with seven for 94 including a terrific 33-yarder down the seam on a play that has been his trademark in the past. - Paul Perillo   MORE>>

As the cliché goes, reports of Brady's demise were greatly exaggerated. No. 12 was on point for most of the day, completing 27 of his 37 throws for 361 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions for a 139.6 passer rating. Maybe best of all was that Brady took a few hits and was sacked twice, but seemed none the worse for it and kept the passing offense chugging along. His rapport with LaFell continues to grow. - Andy Hart   MORE>>

The Patriots offense took yet another blow in the second half when ball carrier Stevan Ridley appeared to injure badly his left knee. While defensively, New England may have suffered another loss with co-captain Jerod Mayo, who also sustained a knee injury that required him to be carted off the Ralph Wilson Stadium turf. - Erik Scalavino   MORE>>

The Images:

GAME 7: JETS AT PATRIOTS

FINAL SCORE: PATRIOTS 27, JETS 25

Full Highlights:

GAME 5: BENGALS AT PATRIOTS

FINAL SCORE: PATRIOTS 43, BENGALS 17

Full Highlights:

PFW Analysis:

There was a time in the not-too-distant past when the Patriots would routinely post victories like Sunday's. On those rare occasions when the deck appeared to be stacked against New England, generally the team would respond with a resounding victory. That didn't happen last Monday when the Chiefs took the Patriots to the woodshed, but a week later it certainly was the case. Tom Brady was taking heat, an erroneous report indicated Aaron Dobson mouthed off to the coaches and there was a general feeling that the team was in turmoil. Just the kind of recipe the old Patriots relished, and for one night the current version seemed to embrace it as well. The Patriots made a statement Sunday night against a solid Bengals team. - Paul Perillo   MORE>>

One performance doesn't necessarily wash away concerns of the first month of struggles, but there certainly were lot of areas that showed improvement against the Bengals. New England's offensive line made solid strides in protection and run blocking. The passing game put up production more in line with expectations. Darrelle Revis brought his trademark ability to the field. - Andy Hart   MORE>>

On both sides of the ball, Brady and the Patriots seemed to take out all their frustrations from the first month of the 2014 season on the Cincinnati Bengals. Last week was a particularly challenging one for the Patriots, after they were embarrassed on national television by the Kansas City Chiefs. - Erik Scalavino   MORE>>

The Images:

GAME 6: PATRIOTS AT BILLS

FINAL SCORE: PATRIOTS 37, BILLS 22

Full Highlights:

PFW Analysis:

Rob Gronkowski has been more and more involved in recent weeks and has been building momentum as a result. In Buffalo he appeared to be all the way back as he showed the ability to get downfield really for the first time all year. Gronk finished with seven for 94 including a terrific 33-yarder down the seam on a play that has been his trademark in the past. - Paul Perillo   MORE>>

As the cliché goes, reports of Brady's demise were greatly exaggerated. No. 12 was on point for most of the day, completing 27 of his 37 throws for 361 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions for a 139.6 passer rating. Maybe best of all was that Brady took a few hits and was sacked twice, but seemed none the worse for it and kept the passing offense chugging along. His rapport with LaFell continues to grow. - Andy Hart   MORE>>

The Patriots offense took yet another blow in the second half when ball carrier Stevan Ridley appeared to injure badly his left knee. While defensively, New England may have suffered another loss with co-captain Jerod Mayo, who also sustained a knee injury that required him to be carted off the Ralph Wilson Stadium turf. - Erik Scalavino   MORE>>

The Images:

GAME 7: JETS AT PATRIOTS

FINAL SCORE: PATRIOTS 27, JETS 25

Full Highlights:

PFW Analysis:

After being a non-factor throughout the season Danny Amendola emerged as a key figure for the first time since the 2013 opener. He was back deep for the opening kickoff for the first time all season and showed some flash on his four attempts. Each time he made nice cuts to avoid traffic and found his way past the 20 to set up the offense with decent field position. *- Paul Perillo * MORE>>

With Stevan Ridley done for the season, and New England going with plenty of passing sets, Vereen took over as the lead dog in the backfield. He got things going with a great diving catch for a 49-yard touchdown when he got wide open down the right side and had to turn on the jets to get to Tom Brady's throw. He led the Patriots in both rushing and receiving.* - Andy Hart * MORE>>

D-lineman Chris Jones – victimized last year at New York for a penalty on a Jets field goal attempt that wound up costing New England the game – was the hero this time when he blocked Folk's kick. It was Folk's only miss on the night. - Erik Scalavino   MORE>>

The Images:

GAME 8: BEARS AT PATRIOTS

FINAL SCORE: PATRIOTS 51, JETS 23

Full Highlights:

PFW Analysis:

Given the difficult nature of the upcoming schedule, some felt the Bears game represented a must-win situation for the Patriots. New England faced a stretch of Denver, Indy, Detroit, Green Bay and San Diego after the Chicago game so the team could ill-afford to slip up against the one losing foe it opposed during the stretch. While the players themselves likely wouldn't admit to the importance of one game over any other, they certainly played with the urgency that accompanies such a predicament. - Paul Perillo   MORE>>

The more the passing attack hits its stride, the more LaFell seems to be comfortable and involved. LaFell notched his fourth career 100-yard game, and second as a Patriot, with a game-high 11 receptions for 124 yards and a touchdown. He's beginning to really fall into place as a complementary option for New England as a favored, trusted Brady target. - Andy Hart   MORE>>

It's never easy to win games in the NFL, but sometimes it looks easy. Tom Brady threw five touchdown passes and nearly completed every pass he threw. Three miscues were drops by receivers, one was an intentional throw-away, and another was just well-defended by Chicago. *- Erik Scalavino * MORE>>

The Images:

PFW Analysis:

After being a non-factor throughout the season Danny Amendola emerged as a key figure for the first time since the 2013 opener. He was back deep for the opening kickoff for the first time all season and showed some flash on his four attempts. Each time he made nice cuts to avoid traffic and found his way past the 20 to set up the offense with decent field position. *- Paul Perillo * MORE>>

With Stevan Ridley done for the season, and New England going with plenty of passing sets, Vereen took over as the lead dog in the backfield. He got things going with a great diving catch for a 49-yard touchdown when he got wide open down the right side and had to turn on the jets to get to Tom Brady's throw. He led the Patriots in both rushing and receiving.* - Andy Hart * MORE>>

D-lineman Chris Jones – victimized last year at New York for a penalty on a Jets field goal attempt that wound up costing New England the game – was the hero this time when he blocked Folk's kick. It was Folk's only miss on the night. - Erik Scalavino   MORE>>

The Images:

GAME 8: BEARS AT PATRIOTS

FINAL SCORE: PATRIOTS 51, JETS 23

Full Highlights:

PFW Analysis:

Given the difficult nature of the upcoming schedule, some felt the Bears game represented a must-win situation for the Patriots. New England faced a stretch of Denver, Indy, Detroit, Green Bay and San Diego after the Chicago game so the team could ill-afford to slip up against the one losing foe it opposed during the stretch. While the players themselves likely wouldn't admit to the importance of one game over any other, they certainly played with the urgency that accompanies such a predicament. - Paul Perillo   MORE>>

The more the passing attack hits its stride, the more LaFell seems to be comfortable and involved. LaFell notched his fourth career 100-yard game, and second as a Patriot, with a game-high 11 receptions for 124 yards and a touchdown. He's beginning to really fall into place as a complementary option for New England as a favored, trusted Brady target. - Andy Hart   MORE>>

It's never easy to win games in the NFL, but sometimes it looks easy. Tom Brady threw five touchdown passes and nearly completed every pass he threw. Three miscues were drops by receivers, one was an intentional throw-away, and another was just well-defended by Chicago. *- Erik Scalavino * MORE>>

The Images: