5 Telling facts about the Patriots after 5 games

Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports

4. Jamie Collins has arguably been the best overall LB in the NFL

It’s not unreasonable to say that Collins has been the best linebacker in the league thus far. He is the only defensive player with over 20 solo tackles, 3.5 sacks and three forced fumbles.

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It also isn’t unreasonable to say that Collins is coming off a 2014 season in which he was a top-four inside linebacker. Pro Football Focus placed Collins on the All-PFF second team at inside linebacker, meaning that there were only two players better than him at that position last year (Luke Kuechly and teammate Dont’a Hightower made first team).

Back to this season, Collins has probably been the most integral cog in the Patriots’ defense, leading the unit in total tackles (37), tackles for losses (3) and of course forced fumbles (3).

As if all that wasn’t enough, Collins displayed his jaw-dropping athletic ability when he leapt over the Colts’ line and blocked the extra point on that garbage-time touchdown, which really put an exclamation mark on the Pats’ win.

Unreal. That play leads one to believe that the Patriots could start blocking a bunch of field goals heading forward if opposing teams don’t account for a vaulting Collins

Next: 3. Malcolm Butler has been racking up pass deflections