10 things Patriots fans should be thankful for

Patriots: 10 things fans should be thankful for

Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

As New England Patriots fans, it’s easy to take the Pats’ winning ways for granted. Close games, such as the recent victories over the New York Giants and Buffalo Bills, often leave a die-hard Patriots fan frustrated rather than elated to escape with a win. In the spirit of Thanksgiving as well as the Patriots’ 10-0 record, here are 10 things every Patriot fan should be thankful for:

10. Relatively easy schedule

This season, the Patriots have been fortunate to have had pretty easy schedule. Only one of their 10 opponents, the Pittsburgh Steelers, currently have winning record; the other nine are either at .500 or below it.

It should be noted that the four of those ten opponents are indeed 5-5 right now. This includes the Indianapolis Colts, New York Jets, New York Giants and Buffalo Bills. And then there’s the trio of 4-6 teams the Pats have defeated: Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins and Washington Redskins. The 3-7 Dallas Cowboys are the worst team the Pats have faced yet this season.

So really, there’s no reason why the Patriots shouldn’t be 10-0 right now. The majority of the teams they’ve encountered are stuck in mediocrity.

Looking ahead, the Denver Broncos are the only team remaining on the Pats’ regular season schedule with a winning record. The 5-5 Houston Texans and Jets will pose problems as well, but for the most part, the path to regular season perfection is more or less clear for the Pats, and that’s something to be thankful for.

Next: 9. Chandler Jones’ career year