This Patriots offense isn't the one Tom Brady has been used to leading for the last 15 or so years, but it appears the 42-year-old has come to grips with it.
No longer is it a unit that can put up 30-plus points each week, it's a unit that needs to not make mistakes and take advantage of opportunities when it gets them.
"I think it is going to be important for us to minimize mistakes, and when we do get those scoring opportunities we're going to have to take advantage," Brady said Monday with Jim Gray on Westwood One Radio. "Our defense has been doing a great job all season. I thought we did some really good things in the run game (Sunday) that really showed up, and there was a lot of toughness out there. We (forced) a lot of turnovers, we ran the ball well. That is a good formula for winning his time of year."
So, does this mean not taking as many risks?
"Not so much," he said. "I mean, I think each game you weigh risk-reward as the game goes on. For example, there's no need to squeeze the ball into a really tight zone (for three yards). If you're trying to gain 30 yards then maybe the risk is worth taking. I think part of a quarterbacks job is to always assess that. We are going against teams, and we know our defense is going to play good, so for us to not turn the ball over we have a almost 95 percent chance of winning the game. We can't just take a knee three times and then punt, but at the same time I don't think it is really worth it to be careless with the ball and I am doing the best I can to try and take care of it. Then when we get opportunities try and put the ball in a place where we can go make plays on the ball."
Brady and the Patriots have a chance to clinch the AFC East Saturday with a win at Gillette Stadium over the Bills.
