FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and NFL:
1. Barmore's breakthrough: The Patriots' 2-9 season hasn't had many silver linings, but third-year defensive lineman Christian Barmore is one of them. He represents a glimmer of future hope for the Patriots, who have six games remaining and will be looking to identify budding players to serve as centerpieces in their rebuilding plan.
"The level I want to reach doesn't come easy," Barmore said at his locker recently inside Gillette Stadium. "So the days you don't want to do it, you have to do it.