NFL Power Rankings: Top 10 Through Week Three

Sep 22, 2013; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Kenbrell Thompkins (85) celebrates with New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) after scoring a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second quarter of a game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

5. New England Patriots (3-0)

The New England Patriots are next, and have finally started to figure things out. The offense has a bit of a rebirth as we saw Aaron Dobson and Kenbrell Thompkins, the scapegoats of the Jets game for all their dropped passes and wrong routes, showed up to play. Dobson caught seven passes for 52 yards, and would’ve had a touchdown had Brady not missed him when he was wide open, and Thompkins totalled three catches for 41 yards and two touchdowns. Brady seems to have finally figured things out with them, and is finally getting into a groove. Brady finished the game 25/36 for 225 yards and two touchdowns. The Patriots controlled this game for the final three-quarters, after the Buccaneers threw it away in the first quarter with mistake after mistake. A lot of these bad mistakes came on behalf of the Patriots defense, who stopped them three times on fourth down, and even picked off Freeman with only a few second left in the half, and proceeded to kick a field goal to end the half. This was easily the most polished the Patriots looked, as the offense was rolling and the defense continued to dominate. More on the defense, this group has shown signs of serious improvement, having only given up 27 points this season to their three opponents. While these haven’t been dominant offense, you can only play who’s put in front of you. The Patriots are finally back on track, and it comes at the perfect time, as they travel to Atlanta to play the struggling Falcons next week.