In case you didn’t notice, the sky is falling on New England.
At least, that’s the impression you’ll get if you spend any time consuming the apocalyptic Patriots takes that have dominated the local football discourse over the last month-plus since it became obvious that Aaron Rodgers would land with the Jets. With Rodgers’ New York arrival now finally here, the Patriots apparently are toast, doomed to a freefall toward the AFC East basement. They might even fight for a spot in the conference cellar, depending on which talking head you’re listening to.
If you’re feeling a sense of deja vu, there’s a reason for that.