In January 2005, after the New England Patriots cruised to a 14-2 record and were beginning their playoff run to Super Bowl XXXIX, then-Indianapolis Colts kicker Mike Vanderjagt memorably declared, "I think [the Patriots] are ripe for the picking."
"I think they're not as good as the beginning of the year and not as good as last year," Vanderjagt said at the time, referring in the latter case to the Patriots' Super Bowl-winning season in 2003.
Vanderjagt had to eat his words back then -- the Colts lost to the Patriots, 20-3, in that playoff game -- but more than a decade later, could his statement apply to the unbeaten, banged-up Patriots as they prepare to host the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football?