FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Here are some quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and the NFL:
1. Patriots defensive end Trey Flowers is coming off one of his best games of the season, not to mention one of the best weeks of his life, as he was present for the birth of his second child, daughter Shylo Reign.
How he was able to make it from Foxborough, Massachusetts, to Alabama -- and back again to dominate against the Minnesota Vikings -- shines a spotlight on the human side of the game and how players balance major life milestones and their demanding jobs.