Now that the smoke has cleared from the New England Patriots' Week 1 loss, we can begin the process of picking apart what actually happened on the football field.
It wasn't a pretty performance from the Mike Vrabel-coached Patriots, but it also wasn't guaranteed proof that they'll stink this season. Granted, they absolutely could stink this season if they continue to make mistakes and play one-dimensional football.
But they could also turn it around, too.
Perhaps it'll be the reverse of last season. The team knocked off the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1 last year to kick-start the Jerod Mayo era and then fell off a cliff immediately after the fact.