It’s very seductive to buy into the narrative that the “real season” for the New England Patriots doesn’t begin until January. After all, since Bill Belichick and Tom Brady arrived, the team has qualified for the playoffs in 16 of 19 years – only missing out on the postseason in 2000, 2002, and 2008.
On the surface, the 20th season of the Brady/Belichick tandem appears to be more of the same. At 8-1 coming off their bye, the Patriots are once again well-positioned to return to the postseason. They have a one-game lead over the Ravens, they have a two-game lead over the Texans and the Bills, they have a two-and-a-half-game lead over the Chiefs, and they have a three-game or more lead over everybody else in the conference.