Some nice groups have a tendency to play with their meals. On Monday night, the Patriots devoured every thing on their plate.
It was apparent from the get-go. The Patriots have been hitting hard final night. Early, usually, and persistently.
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Perhaps it was a response to the failure to ship a knockout blow to the Bengals eight day earlier. Perhaps it was a product of coach Mike Vrabel making certain that the Pats did not miss a beat through the inherent distractions of Thanksgiving week. Perhaps it flowed from an intense need to not coast into the bye week. Perhaps it was an step one in a deliberate effort to go away little doubt because the Patriots chase down the AFC East crown and the No. 1 seed within the AFC.
Whatever the rationale(s), it is clear that Vrabel poked, prodded, and pestered his gamers to deliver the warmth for a prime-time viewers. With 9 wins in a row coming into the game, final night wasn’t the time to let the foot slip off the accelerator.
Instead, they punched it. Figuratively and actually.
The message to the remainder of the league, because the Patriots get 13 days to host the Bills earlier than visiting the Ravens, was unmistakable. At a time when many groups are preventing their means by an extended, up-and-down slog, the Patriots are throwing haymakers. If they’ll stick with it, it’ll make a serious distinction.
It additionally might ship the group’s first postseason win since 2018. And extra.