Throwback Patriots Remind Us They Can Win Any Way Required

Over their first three games of the 2015 NFL season, the New England Patriots were an offensive powerhouse.

Quarterback Tom Brady carved defenses to pieces through the air, hearkening back to the team's undefeated campaign in 2007 and serving notice to the rest of the AFC.

In Sunday's 30-6 win over the Dallas Cowboys, the 4-0 Patriots turned back the clock even further. All the way back to the beginning of their dynasty.

They can beat teams any way they need to.

Mind you, it might not be considered much of an achievement to defeat a Cowboys team that has been ravaged by injuries. And it isn't as though Brady didn't do anything Sunday.

The early front-runner for the 2015 MVP threw for 275 yards and two touchdowns, giving the Golden Boy some impressive statistics for a time period he originally wasn't even supposed to be playing.

Cue the Roger Goodell frowny face.

But it wasn't the Brady buzz saw of recent weeks. In fact, he took a beating early, getting sacked five times in the first half for only the second time in his career.

So the Patriots, as they often do, flipped the script. As they do better than any team in the league, the Pats altered their game plan on the fly, adapting to the situation at hand.

With the New England O-line unable to deal with a Dallas pass rush that got back Pro Bowl end Greg Hardy, the Patriots relied more heavily on the ground game. And it was a true committee attack.

LeGarrette Blount led the charge on the ground, picking up 74 yards on 13 carries. That's 5.7 yards a pop, which in football parlance is classified as "not too shabby."

Dion Lewis, who recently received a two-year contract extension after a scintillating September, paced the New England backfield in both snaps and touches. He gained 93 total yards on 14 touches, including an impressive 10-yard touchdown catch.

Lewis drew raves from wide receiver Julian Edelman, who didn't exactly stink up the joint with 120 yards and a touchdown on four catches, after the game:

It wasn't just the New England offense that shined in Week 5. Yes, the Cowboys don't have quarterback Tony Romo. Or wide receiver Dez Bryant. Or running back DeMarco Murray, for that matter. But this was still a team that had scored at least one touchdown in 65 consecutive games.

Dallas didn't hit 66.

It was partly, as it so often is with the Patriots, head coach Bill Belichick's game-planning. The Patriots took away the run (Dallas gained 100 yards on 24 carries) and bracketed tight end Jason Witten.

That left—well, right now that doesn't leave much in Dallas. And it showed.

Defensive end Jabaal Sheard spearheaded the defense, and he in a way personifies the Patriots' ability to continually adapt and evolve.

When the season began, the belief was that Sheard would provide depth behind starters Rob Ninkovich and Chandler Jones. Perhaps he'd offer a situational boost. Instead, Belichick has used Sheard, as he often does, all over the place.

The result has been four sacks in four games, including two against Dallas.

Belichick credited his team's all-around effort Sunday while speaking with reporters after the game:

"

It's a good feeling to come down here and win. Really proud of our team today. I thought we got great complimentary football from all three phases—our offense, defense, special teams.

The way we started the game, the quick series on defense, the punt return put our offense in good field position. We had several of those during the day, a couple turnovers in the second half. Real good field position in the kicking game. Stephen [Gostkowski] kicked the ball well. Good punt coverage by [Matthew Slater], great kick by Ryan [Allen].

Defensively, we didn't give up many big plays, played OK on third down, got off the field quite a bit in the first half, gave our offense some good field position. They took advantage of it.

"

Then Belichick almost smiled. Almost.

You want to know why the Brady/Belichick Patriots might be the greatest dynasty in NFL history? Sunday was why.

Some NFL teams struggle to ever find an identity. Others find one but become so entrenched in that identity that they can't change if needed.

The Patriots have more personalities than Sybil. They'll beat you through the air or pound you on the ground. They don't just completely change their identity from week to week, but from half to half, quarter to quarter or even series to series.

So many people love to hate Darth Hoodie, Brady and the rest of the team, but only one identity matters.

The identity of a winner.

Gary Davenport is an NFL analyst at Bleacher Report and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association and the Pro Football Writers of America. You can follow Gary on Twitter @IDPSharks.