The good times kept rolling on Sunday, as the Patriots (7-2) narrowly won their sixth-straight game by beating the Falcons (3-5) at Gillette Stadium 24-23.
It was yet another “easy opponent” for New England, who continue having, statistically, one of the easiest schedules in NFL history, with some metrics ranking their slate as the No. 1 easiest schedule since 1978.
Week 10 brings on the Buccaneers (6-2), who will be one of only two teams the rest of the regular season that the Patriots will play with a winning record - the other being their late-season rematch with the Bills (6-2).
On paper, the Patriots should win most of their games down the stretch. With how things have shaken out, it’s not outlandish to expect this team to finish the year somewhere around 13-4, health permitting.
The combined record for remaining Patriots’ opponents is 24-43. But don’t tell head coach Mike Vrabel that, who was asked about his team’s strength of schedule on Monday’s edition of The Greg Hill Show.
“The national conversation is that the team is 7-2, but the schedule has been a joke,” said WEEI’s Chris Curtis. “And how do you balance, obviously, a young team, six-straight wins, you're at the top of the division, playing great - how do you balance keeping them in check, but also letting them know that anything is possible the rest of this way?”
“Be the same every day, you know what I mean?” started Vrabel. “Like, I don't know - you want me to comment on the schedule, or you want me to comment on my message to the team? What are you trying to say? You’re working a lot into there. Like, is that the national perspective, or is that yours?
“I can only coach one team at a time. I don't make the schedule. Every team beats every [team], you know what I mean? Like, that's just mind boggling to me, in the National Football League, that there be strength of schedule. You got a salary cap. Everybody spends the same amount of money. So you guys know in this league, that that doesn't really mean anything.
“I love your little smirk over there. You know, like, you come up with this question and you want to ask me about the strength of schedule and my message. My message has been the same every week - that we have to put everything that we have into each week, and that everybody has to prepare as a starter. I love our practices and the way that we compete, and then you go and play the game.
“You know, I did see the talent that Atlanta had. That's a talented football team. How many first round picks? I don't know, 10 or 12 on the roster? Good skill players. So I'm never gonna apologize for our guys winning.”
With Falcons Week in the rearview, Vrabel and the Patriots will begin preparing for the first-place Buccaneers, who currently have New England listed as an underdog for the first time in weeks. As of publishing, the Patriots are 2.5-point road dogs, and sit on the moneyline at +120. The total is set at 48.5.
Tune in each and every Monday throughout the football season to Patriots Monday on WEEI. Head coach Mike Vrabel joins The Greg Hill Show at 6:30 a.m. ET, and quarterback Drake Maye joins WEEI Afternoons.