New England Patriots: Tom Brady ready to ‘attack’ second half of season

Tom Brady and the New England Patriots enjoyed a bye week in Week 10, now it’s time for the defending Super Bowl champions to attack the second half of the season.

For Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots, the 2019 NFL season starts now.

After pretty much breezing to an 8-1 season prior to the bye, the defending Super Bowl champions ran into a wakeup call at the hands of Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens.

In the 37-20 loss, the Patriots saw some weaknesses exposed, mainly in their dominant defense that was anything but dominant against the Ravens’ running attack. There were also some un-Patriot like mistakes and turnovers that contributed to the win.

Despite the flaws, however, was the positive takeaway from how Tom Brady and the Patriots offense was finally able to perhaps find their identity with a high tempo approach featuring Julian Edelman, James White and newly acquired wide receiver Mohamed Sanu.

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Still, far from perfect, Brady and the offense still have some things to work on. With a tough schedule approaching, beginning with the Week 11 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, the focus during the bye week is approving on both sides of the ball.

On offense, the New England Patriots have to figure out a way to get the running game going and production from the tight end position. Defensively, the focus is improving the run defense and finding ways to limit quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson.

Coming off a sour loss, it’s a good bet Tom Brady and his team will be ready to attack the second half of their season.

"“We’re ready to attack the second half of the year and play our best football,” Brady said Friday in an appearance on Patriots All Access, as transcribed by Boston.com. “This is our chance, this is our opportunity. We put ourselves in a good position, but everything is ahead of us. It’s our choice – what are we going to be?”"

In fact, that loss to the Ravens could be the best thing that could have happened to this year’s version of the New England Patriots. From the coaching staff to the 53rd player on the roster, it was a wakeup call the team needed.

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It also brought the team back to the pack a bit with their 8-1 record. With the Ravens breathing heavy down their backs, every game from here on out is an important game if they want to secure the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

As last season proved, a Bill Belichick coached team can win on the road in the playoffs but going back up and playing in Baltimore is something the team wants to avoid. While the team primarily focus on themselves, there is no ignoring the possibilities good or bad ahead for the team.

"“I think our entire season is determined by what happens from this point on,” Brady continued. “We’ve had our ups and downs; certainly, our defense has been playing great, and offensively, I hope we can get some continuity and grow and learn. Become the version that we’d all expect ourselves to become.”"

Some keys to that offense being better is the addition of 2019 first-round pick N’Keal Harry, more system experience for Mohamed Sanu, the return of left tackle Isaiah Wynn and finding a running game that will complement the passing game.

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Then of course, there is the clutch factor known as Tom Brady. With the defense carrying the team through the first half of the season, it may be time for the 42-year-old quarterback to put the team on his shoulder…that is if the offensive line can keep him off his back.

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