Copyright Boston.com
"New England breaks into the top three with a convincing win in Tampa. What more is there to say?" After a hard-fought win over a tough Buccaneers team in Tampa Bay on Sunday, the Patriots are starting to quiet some of the discourse surrounding their 8-2 record and whether or not it’s a byproduct of a softer slate of games so far this year. Count Tom Brady among those who believes that the Patriots are starting to validate their status as a legitimate contender in a wide-open AFC field. The Patriots legend and current Fox broadcaster unveiled his weekly power rankings on Tuesday, handing New England the No. 3 spot — the highest-ranked club in the AFC. Only the Eagles (No. 1) and Rams (No. 2) stood in front of the Patriots in Brady’s latest rankings. “New England breaks into the top three with a convincing win in Tampa. What more is there to say? The knock on this team had been their schedule, but they went into a hostile environment and beat a great team that was playing well heading into the game,” Brady said of his former team. “Shoutout to Stefon Diggs, who’s given this locker room a whole new attitude throughout this seven-game winning streak.” With Sunday’s win in Tampa, the Patriots have reeled off seven wins in a row and currently sit atop the AFC East — holding a two-game cushion over the Bills after Buffalo fell to Miami on Sunday. While the emergence of Drake Maye as a legitimate MVP candidate and Mike Vrabel’s leadership in his first year as Patriots head coach has loomed large, veteran additions like Diggs, Milton Williams, Morgan Moses, Robert Spillane, and several other offseason pickups have also shored up the team’s depth chart and provided valuable experience on a still-retooling roster. New England will still have several daunting tests on their schedule later this year, including a Week 14 rematch with the Bills in Foxborough and a bout on the road against Lamar Jackson and the Ravens on Dec. 21. In Brady’s eyes, just about any team in his latest rankings has the means to orchestrate a deep playoff run in January and February. “We might not have the one or two runaway favorites in the NFL this year, but this top 10 is loaded with teams that can win games in January. We’re in for some incredible football as the temperatures start to drop around the league — they already have, actually,” Brady said. Here’s a look at Brady’s full top-10 list in his latest power rankings 1. Eagles (7-2) 2. Rams (7-2) 3. Patriots (8-2) 4. Seahawks (7-2) 5. Broncos (8-2) 6. Buccaneers (6-3) 7. Chargers (7-3) 8. Chiefs (5-4) 9. Lions (6-3) 10. Colts (8-2)
