COMMENTARY
Sixteen thoughts on the Patriots’ 23-17 win over the Ravens …
1. Some of us (ahem) needed the lesson more than others, but make no mistake, the lesson has been learned. Even when the Patriots’ opponent looks superior on paper and in the standings, even when it feels like the season has taken an irreparable turn for the worse and the good times will be few, writing off Bill Belichick’s team against any opponent is a formal request to look like a fool. The Patriots came into Sunday’s night’s matchup with a 3-5 record, one win (against the Jets, who I believe were informally relegated from the NFL in 1989) in their last five games, and facing a frequent nemesis that that last season had sent the franchise the kind of rut they hadn’t endured in 20 years.