There is a popular take that emerges after games like Sunday's between the Patriots and 49ers. When the double-digit favorite -- which the Patriots were -- comes away with the anticipated double-digit victory, the reaction is: Well how could we possibly glean anything from that one?
It's true that the Niners (1-9) are not a good football team. They rank last in the league in points allowed per game, rush yards allowed per game and total yards allowed per game. Offensively, they rank 31st in pass yards per game and 30th in total yards per game. Safe to say that the Patrots, in all likelihood, learned more about themselves against a team like Seattle the week prior.
Still, that doesn't mean a look at the film from what went down in Santa Clara on Sunday afternoon can't provide us with some valuable information. Among the things we learned?
The Patriots have someone who appears to be a legitimate home-grown receiver not named Julian Edelman. One of their best offensive weapons is finally healthy and getting his legs under him. Their quarterback is doing things at 39 years old that he has no business being able to do, both with his legs and his arm. Their sub defense may have found some pass-rush help in a discarded player they acquired mid-season. Their base defense has some issues to fix in the running game that won't be made any easier by the suspension of one of their best players. Their top options for the No. 2 and 3 corner spots seem to be gaining traction, while the top options for the No. 2 and 3 linebacker spots appear to be in flux and may remain that way.
Good or bad, it's all information. It's all useful in determining what this Patriots team is at the moment and may become, which is why we roll up our sleeves and get into it elbow deep with this week's Report Card.