The New England Patriots do a lot of things well, but quarterback Tom Brady has been clear that there is plenty room for his team to improve.
Throughout the season, the Patriots have stressed the need to play a "complete" game, but they have yet to do it, at least in their eyes. Two weeks ago, the winless Indianapolis Colts made a daunting push for an upset until they fell short, and it was more of the same from the Pats Sunday against the lowly Washington Redskins.
New England needed a last-minute hybrid interception/fumble to close out a tight 34-27 contest with Washington.
New England needed a last-minute hybrid interception/fumble to close out a tight 34-27 contest with Washington.
“We are capable of putting a lot of good plays together,” Brady told the media Sunday. “We just need to do it consistently for 60 minutes. I think that is what you see out there. We had opportunities to make plays. For one reason or another, we were just a little off. We are still working at it. There is nothing perfect in football, unless you are the Packers.”
The Patriots' defense has given up the majority of its touchdowns-against during the fourth quarter (nearly half), and it seems New England's opponents usually have a sliver of hope at the end of each game. But despite the wary final-stanza performances, New England is still a respectable 10-3 and atop the AFC East.
“I think Coach [Bill Belichick] has high expectations for us. He challenges us every week to play better and more consistently,” Brady said. “At times we do it and other times we don’t. We are still looking to put together 60 minutes of football.”
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