Tom Brady and the Patriots in action against the Jets just last month at Gillette Stadium. (Getty Images)
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Tom Brady and Co. are headed to the Meadowlands Monday night to take on the Jets. WBZ NewsRadio's Adam Kaufman caught up with Boston Globe NFL reporter Ben Volin to preview the game and talk all things Patriots for the Week 7 Red Zone Report.
Brady didn't throw for a touchdown last week, but he did run for a pair. Phillip Dorsett didn't play, and Josh Gordon left early with an injury. How much trouble is the Patriots' offense in if something happens to Julian Edelman?
"Edelman is probably the one really trusted, elite player on the offense right now, and he doesn't have his running mate Rob Gronkowski, obviously," Volin said. "James White is another weapon, but when James White is your third or fourth option, that's when the Patriots' offense is really rolling. They have 11 days in between when they last played against the Giants and this Monday night game against the Jets, so I think this little mini-bye will do them well."
The Patriots have at least a two-game cushion on every team in the AFC, with the exception of the Bills, who are a surprising 4-1. Are the Pats already on their way to the top seed in the conference?
"It certainly looks like it right now," Volin said. "They have a great head start on the rest of the conference, but we have to admit, a lot of it is because they haven't played anyone. I think the combined record of their opponents right now is 10-23, and they've played 5 of the 6 least-efficient offenses in the NFL ... the challenging games are still on the schedule, and they still have to earn it."
Kaufman and Volin also talked about Michael Bennett's suspension, the impending return of N'Keal Harry, the addition of tight ends Ben Watson and Eric Tomlinson, and predictions for the game against Sam Darnold and Gang Green.
Listen to this week's Red Zone Report with Adam Kaufman (@adammkaufman) and Ben Volin (@BenVolin):
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