This article is part of our NFL Observations series.
That game went about as well as it could for me, except I had the Pats defense (30 points) on my bench for the Browns in one league, but it's one that's drawing dead anyway. I sat Kyle Pitts in an important league and had the Patriots minus 6.5.
- Mac Jones played a great game, save for a pick he forced, one play after his best throw of the night, a perfectly threaded ball to Hunter Henry. I guess he got cocky. There was a one-year gap, but Tom Brady to Jones might be the next Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers or Joe Montana to Steve Young.
- Rhamondre Stevenson (12-69-0, 1-1-6-0) looks explosive running outside and breaks tackles. Damien Harris (10-56-0, 1-1-9-0) is the interior bruiser, and it looks like an even timeshare going forward with Brandon Bolden in on most third downs.
- The Patriots defense isn't flashy, but they are solid and rarely make mistakes.
- I can't believe I almost cut Nick Folk. He's a beast, though I was annoyed he missed the final PAT.
- The Patriots are my pick for the AFC. If anything, this team will only get better, and the smash-mouth style should play in January. A Brady-Belichick Super Bowl would be bananas.
- The Falcons are a teardown.
- Kyle Pitts (5-3-29-0) should get his chances, but the Patriots won't be the last team to take him away and let other players not beat them.
