As I left the Gillette Stadium press box on Sunday night, I held the same opinion many of you did: Tom Brady finally looked like his old self after a four-touchdown performance in a 38-3 win over the Jets. Heck, Brady was even one of my Three Ups immediately after the game.
And, certainly, there were some things to feel good about, especially Brady throwing to eight different receivers and touchdowns to four of them. And the movement and throw on this touchdown to Phillip Dorsett.
Here are the positional ratings against the Jets:
Quarterback (3 out of 5)
The touchdown throws to Burkhead and Dorsett were great. He also had some nice throws to Edelman and White. Brady's arm isn't -- and has never been -- an issue. There are a few plays a game where he throws a very heavy ball, normally deep left when he steps into it.
Running backs (4.5 out of 5)
This is another example of where production gets confused with execution and doing your job. All of the running backs were effective in this game, especially White as a receiver where his route running was against on display and superb. ... Sony Michel only averaged 3.6 yards per attempt but for the first time maybe all season, I didn't think he left any yards on the field. In fact, I think this 14-yard run was his best of the season. It continued to show Michel's progress, and hinted as what he can bring in the future.
Receivers (3.5 out of 5)
Good work by this group, especially Edelman and Dorsett — can he please have a sustained role in this offense?! There were still too many penalties, and that's just sloppy. Gronkowski still had some issues blocking, but Dwayne Allen (yes, that was a legit pass interference penalty) was worse. ... Good to see Gronkowski go down and get that one pass, but he wasn't any better down the field in this one.
Offensive line (4 out of 5)
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Take Trent Brown and his subpar run blocking out of this unit and they had a great day with just two total pressures allowed (sack by Marcus Cannon, knockdown by Brown). But the truth is Brown just continues to get worse as the season goes along. His pass blocking is largely fine, but his finish in the run game is not sharp. He has a tough time getting synced up on the double teams and getting to the second level. Shaq Mason and David Andrews were superb in this one. Mason keeps getting better. In order of effectiveness: Mason, Andrews, Joe Thuney, Cannon and Brown.
DEFENSE
I just want to state from the top — #hotttakealert — that I feel more confident in what I'm going to get out of the defense than I am the offense. For the Patriots, it's the much more disciplined side of the ball.
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Defensive line (5 out of 5)
Pass rush, run defense ... whatever you wanted to see out of this unit, you got it in this one. They were awesome. Everyone from Trey Flowers to John Simon made multiple impactful plays, while I counted only two errors ... for the entire unit. Flowers and Lawerence Guy again dominated up front. ... Best game from Malcom Brown and even Danny Shelton in some time, although there is still some leakage from Shelton in playing the two-gap scheme properly. He has a tendency to drift up the field and get the Patriots' spacing messed up.
Linebackers (4 out of 5)
Kyle Van Noy had a monster game in terms of impactful plays (eight) but he also had a few gap/edge and pass coverage issues. ... Dont'a Hightower has settled into a pattern where you get some good, and you get some bad. It's never one way or the other. ... Elandon Roberts does well in his limited snaps of late.
Secondary (4 out of 5)
Stephon Gilmore capped an incredibly productive season with another sterling performance. To think of where he's come since the embarrassing Carolina game last season to now is amazing. ... J.C. Jackson had a few issues in this game, but he's been the second-best corner to close the season. No reason not to keep him there. ... Poor Keion Crossen got burned by two of the best anticipation throws you're ever going to see out of Sam Darnold. Looked a little like a young Andrew Luck at times. ... All the safeties were strong in this one.
THREE UP
Trey Flowers: Dominated against the run and the pass, and his forced fumble was a huge play in the game. Arguably the Patriots' most valuable player as they head into the postseason.
Lawrence Guy: Like Flowers, he capped his best season as a pro with another six impactful plays. Doesn't come close to getting the credit he deserves.
Julian Edelman: His route running was the best we've seen out of him this season. He is obviously getting healthy at the perfect time.
THREE DOWN
Trent Brown: This is the most snaps he's ever played in his career. Perhaps he's getting tired -- the knee bend he needs as such a tall player is getting worse by the week in the run game.
Dwayne Allen: Huge and unnecessary penalty and allowed a run stuff. Not good enough in his limited snaps.
James Develin: If the running game isn't popping, that means No. 46 isn't quite squaring up.