The New England Patriots don't look like the juggernaut teams we've seen in Foxboro in recent seasons, but it's still unwise to discount this team as long as Tom Brady and Bill Belichick remain at the helm.
FOX Sports 1's Nick Wright, however, isn't too high on the Patriots' chances of emerging from the AFC for the third consecutive season. He explained on Tuesday's edition of "First Things First" why the Patriots would be considered a long shot to win the conference if you didn't factor in their history.
Sure, the Patriots have been a little inconsistent during the 2018 season, and they've even looked bad at times -- a brutal Week 10 against the Tennessee Titans comes to mind. But they played their best against the top teams, which has been a staple of New England's throughout Belichick's tenure as head coach.
The Patriots were 4-0 against playoff teams during the regular season, including wins against the AFC's top seed in the Kansas City Chiefs and the No. 3 seed in the Houston Texans. The Pats also beat the NFC North champion Chicago Bears on the road.
So, while it's correct to say the Patriots don't appear to be as intimidating as they've been in the past, saying they are anything close to a long shot to win the AFC makes absolutely no sense.
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