The Patriots are back in familiar territory during the bye week

Not even a 2-4 start could stifle this annual ritual for New England

It’s a weekend in mid-December and New Englanders just experienced their first snowfall. Despite everything that has changed in the last two years, some parts of the calendar remain constant. For some, that once again includes their favorite football team.

On Sunday the New England Patriots don’t play a game as part of the annual “bye” week. However, fans of the Pats find themselves in a similar scenario, albeit with a slightly different feel. After Monday’s belligerent beatdown of the Buffalo Bills, New England secured themselves and their supporters an opportunity to watch this week’s set of games as leaders of both the AFC and the conference at-large.

Just one season after losing legendary quarterback Tom Brady in free agency and thus treading water at 7-9, Robert Kraft, Bill Bellichick and company have completely turned the tide of their franchise and their season. It began in March with an offseason frenzy that included the acquisition of pass-rusher Matthew Judon and tight end Hunter Henry. It resumed a month later with the selection of Alabama quarterback Mac Jones in the first round.

But following an abysmal 2-4 start, with close losses at the hands of the Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, and Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England has rattled off seven wins in a row. Not only have they won the games, but they’ve also mastered the art of securing victories in numerous fashions. An offensive beatdown of the Cleveland Browns, a shutout of the Atlanta Falcons, and a narrow victory over the Los Angeles Chargers got things going, but truly it was Monday’s windy trench fight that led us to where we stand today.

The Status Quo

Entering last week, New England’s status and ceiling were still being debated. Some thought that the performance of Jones and the offense was a flash in the pan, while others thought the defense was taking advantage of depleted rosters. Though after the Pats thwarted the Bills offense and ran the ball at will, notwithstanding the conditions, it became clear that their football identity was a legitimate problem for the rest of the conference. Jones threw the ball just three times and still looked comfortable.

How do you beat a team that changes like a chameleon? It remains to be seen.

Buffalo’s consolation prize for getting out of their own stadium in one piece is even worse. This week they go and face the Super Bowl champions in Tampa, led by none other than the man who stood in the way of the same division title for two decades. For the Pats, they get to sit at home and watch the flaming-Elmo meme in real-time.

After all these years, New England and their fans still treat December football and playoff calculus like a birth right. Eyeing the weekly scoreboard, forecasting each opponent’s remaining schedule, hypothesizing potential playoff matchups; a yearly ritual in the northeastern six states. And even after Father Time himself wearing number twelve said no more, pro football’s Aristotle had other plans. For this week, The New England Patriots are back atop the conference and Norman Rockwell couldn’t paint the excitement if he tried.