Taking Stock of New England Patriots Ahead of Week 4 Bye

The New England Patriots are on a roll—so much so that it almost seems as if their bye week could not have come at a worse time.

The Patriots are relatively healthy, though a few key players are still on the mend from injuries. They have scored 40 points or more in each of their past two games. Tom Brady is off to an MVP-caliber start to the season. 

Life is good for the Patriots, but life is not perfect. The Patriots may be undefeated, but that doesn't mean they're flawless. 

Here's a look at the Patriots' early-season performance—what's worked, what hasn't worked, who's hot, who's not and everything in between as the Patriots hit their bye week. 

Tom Brady Could Threaten His 2007 Numbers

Stew Milne/Associated Press

Is Tom Brady playing better than he was in 2007? That's up for debate. Could he threaten to put up the same or better numbers than he posted in that record-setting season? If he keeps up his current pace, that's not up for debate: 

• Through three games in 2007: 70-of-88 (79.6 percent), 887 yards (10.1 yards per attempt), 10 touchdowns, 1 interception, 141.8 passer rating 
• Through three games in 2015: 96-of-133 (72.2 percent), 1,112 yards (8.4 YPA), 9 TD, 0 INT, 119.6 passer rating

Sure, it's like asking whether you'd rather drive a Maserati or an Aston Martin, but these are questions worth asking.

On Sunday against the Jaguars, Brady completed 78.6 percent of his throws for 358 yards and two touchdowns. The Patriots scored on all nine of their offensive drives, except for the final drive (two Jimmy Garoppolo kneel-downs to end the game). 

If the season ended today, Brady would probably be the unanimous choice for MVP. We're only three games in, so there's plenty of time for things to change. That being said, after all the offseason controversy surrounding Brady's alleged involvement in Deflategate, the Patriots star quarterback is perhaps more motivated than ever before.

The Patriots' 2-Headed Rushing Attack Is Back

Charles Krupa/Associated Press

Fantasy football owners be damned, the Patriots remain the Rubik's Cube of the NFL when it comes to deciphering their strategy at the running back position.

Young upstart Dion Lewis had earned a majority of the workload in the first two games of the season, but on Sunday, veteran LeGarrette Blount reminded the world that he's still a threat for carries in the Patriots backfield.

Blount finished the game with 18 carries for 78 yards (4.3 yards per carry) and three touchdowns along with a 14-yard reception. Blount's production was underscored by Lewis, who had eight carries for 37 yards and a touchdown along with five receptions for 30 yards. The two backs combined for 159 total yards of offense. 

With Blount and Lewis, the Patriots have a Steak 'n' Shake combination of running backs that can replicate the type of duo the Patriots have relied on for years, from Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen to BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead through to Corey Dillon and Kevin Faulk and every pair in between. 

The Patriots Still Haven't Settled on an Every-Down Offensive Line

Michael Dwyer/Associated Press

Tre' Jackson (63), Shaq Mason (69) and David Andrew (60) have played significant roles in the Patriots' three games so far, but Jackson and Mason have each come off the field at times.

The Patriots offense got off to a sluggish start to the 2014 season due in part to the shuffling of their personnel on the offensive line.

This tactic was seen as counterproductive, and perhaps as a sign of a lack of confidence in that group. Over the course of the first four games, the Patriots ironed out the starting five on the offensive line, and the group finally stabilized at that point.

The 2015 season appears off to a similar start for the offensive line, but the strategy has not been as centrally discussed. Maybe that's because the Patriots offense is more smooth than molasses on silk, but that doesn't mean it's not worth discussing.

• Starting five, Week 1: Nate Solder (LT), Josh Kline (LG), David Andrews (C), Tre' Jackson (RG), Sebastian Vollmer (RT)
• Starting five, Week 2: Nate Solder (LT), Shaq Mason (LG), David Andrews (C), Josh Kline (RG), Sebastian Vollmer (RT)
• Starting five, Week 2: Nate Solder (LT), Josh Kline (LG), David Andrews (C), Tre' Jackson (RG), Sebastian Vollmer (RT)

Most of the shuffling has taken place at the interior line spots, but Marcus Cannon has earned a lot of work as a backup right tackle, which might or might not have anything to do with Vollmer's offseason rehab from labrun surgery. Vollmer has taken a lot of abuse over the years, so perhaps the Patriots are just trying to limit the mileage he accumulates in 2015.

Mason has also earned a lot of work in an alternate role as a fullback, clearing the way as a lead blocker in short-yardage run situations. That, along with the advent of three- and four-tight end sets, has been the team's primary response to the loss of fullback James Develin for the 2015 season. 

It will be interesting to see if the Patriots have settled on any definitive answers on the offensive line, or if they continue to let that group shake itself out in the weeks following the bye. 

The Patriots Defense Must Improve Against the Run

Steven Senne/Associated Press

The Patriots defense enters the bye week on a high note after holding the Jaguars to just 17 points, but the real challenges lie ahead.

If there is one major criticism of this team headed into the bye, it's an inability to stop anyone from running the ball all over it. Thus far, the Patriots are in the bottom 10 in the NFL in yards per game (117) and yards per carry (4.9) on the ground. 

They tightened up in Week 3, as the Jaguars could only muster 57 rushing yards on 20 attempts and had a long gain of just eight yards. That being said, the Patriots will be facing teams which emphasize a strong running game: the New York Jets, Washington Redskins, Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles and Houston Texans will all look to exploit the Patriots front seven.

The Patriots made some adjustments to their defense in Week 2 against the Bills that helped them plug up their leaky run defense. Only a few of those changes stuck in Week 3, but that's the beauty of this defense: The Patriots will always change their game plan to shut down an opponent's best offensive threat.

Perhaps the Patriots have just felt the need to shut down the pass through three games this year and have forfeited the run in result. With that being said, there's got to be a way for the Patriots to have their cake and eat it, too. 

The Patriots Are Still on the Mend

Tom Lynn/Associated Press

The Patriots aren't just beating opponents—they're dominating them.

Make no mistake: The first two games of the season ended in one-possession Patriots victories, but both of them were essentially over at the beginning of the fourth quarter.

And to think, this isn't the best of what the Patriots have to offer in 2015. There are still some very important players on the Patriots roster who have yet to return from injury.

Defensive tackle Chris Jones and wide receiver Brandon LaFell are still on the physically unable to perform list. Center Bryan Stork is on short-term injured reserve. Veteran offensive lineman Ryan Wendell has also been dealing with injuries and should make his return to the field soon.

LaFell and Jones are eligible to return in Week 7, so just two weeks following the Patriots' bye. Stork is eligible to return in Week 9, just four weeks after the bye. Over the course of the next month, the Patriots will only get stronger and stronger as more and more pieces return to the field.