Know Your Foe: New England Patriots

CHARLOTTE – After seven games, the New England Patriots seemed like a middle-of-the-road team in the AFC playoff race.

They’d beaten the Jets twice and won at Houston. There were also losses to Miami, New Orleans, Tampa Bay and Dallas, some of the better teams in the NFC.

So the jury was still out heading into Week 8 as the Patriots headed west to face the red-hot L.A. Chargers.

New England won, 27-24, behind a defense that harassed Justin Herbert to the tune of two interceptions and three sacks.

Suddenly, the Patriots are shooting up the power rankings and coming into Carolina with the momentum of a two-game win streak.