Don't sleep on me...

As it stands before week 12 action, The Patriots have fought their way to a seven and three record. That, however, is not the best indicator of things to come.

New England is presently ranked fourth in the NFL in points per game (29.3), second in yards per game (426.7), and second in pass yards per game (315.7).

The offensive stats are scary enough. Yet the Pats are also ranked tenth in points allowed despite being ranked thirty-second in both passing yards and total yards allowed per game. While some might say that denotes a poor defense, I would beg to differ.

We have all heard defense wins championships. It is a time tested truth that is hard to debate against. At the same time, it is one of the most over-thought sayings in sports. To me, the phrase simply means this: If a team scores less points, regardless of how many yards they compile, you obviously still win. In a season where the green Bay Packers boasted a 10-0 mark after week 11 while also boasting the leagues second worst pass defense, how could anyone disagree that bend but don't break works?

If the theory of bend but don't break holds out through Superbowl Sunday, we could actually see the league's worst and second worst pass defenses facing each other for all the marbles. Would that mean that offense wins championships?

The Patriots are 7-3 and have scored 35.5 points per game over their last two. keeping in mind that they hold a nearly ten point advantage in points scored over their opponents thus far, and that the next six games include the Eagles (4-6), Colts (0-10), Redskins (3-7), Broncos (5-5), Dolphins (3-7), and Bills (5-5), you gotta wonder whether or not they will even lose again this year.

The league may be sleeping on the Patriots, but a rude awakening is coming.