An impressive first half against the Bills last Sunday set the stage for what the Patriots could be once the playoffs begin. Despite the narrative going into the game that they weren't a legitimate threat, they proved, in every respect, that they actually were and set the blueprint for their success over the final three games.
The only problem is that they didn't maintain that performance for the entire game, allowed the Bills to score on five consecutive drives, and eventually lost.
There are many reasons for their downfall beyond their lackluster defensive effort, most notably a noticeable shift in offensive production and the absence of Stefon Diggs, which prompted one NFL analyst to suggest an under-the-radar issue with Josh McDaniels' game planning.