Welcome to the Unconventional Review, an instant reaction to standouts, stats, and story lines from the Patriots’ most recent game . . .
In a broad and dispassionate sense, there’s really no such thing as a big win for the Patriots this season. It’s OK to admit that, I think, because it confirms a clear-eyed assessment of the State of Things.
The Patriots are in the early stages of a rebuild, with a rookie coach. A playoff berth is unrealistic, and their priority is developing the players on the roster that have a chance to contribute when they’re legitimately competitive again.