The NFL better look out, because the New England Patriots are finally getting healthy.
Let me re-phrase that: The Patriots are getting healthier. Their injured reserve list is still littered with key contributors, such as Vince Wilfork, Jerod Mayo and Tommy Kelly. The defense in particular has been decimated by injuries, and injuries to vital offensive players have left Tom Brady with few passing options.
Superstar tight end Rob Gronkowski missed the first six games of the season and hasn't fully returned to form yet. Top receiver Danny Amendola has been in and out. Subtract Wes Welker (free agency) and Aaron Hernandez (jail) from the equation as well, and it's easy to see why Brady's struggled so much this year. That the Patriots are 7-3 speaks as much to the organization's depth as it does to Bill Belichick's brilliant coaching ability.
For the most part, New England's done a good job working around its various injuries. Players have been coming and going all year, forcing Belichick to fiddle with the roster and make constant adjustments. He's been able to plug most of the leaks on defense, keeping New England's depleted D in the top 10 in points allowed per game.
On offense, he's had to lean on rookies and get even more creative with his play-calling to compensate for his lack of firepower. In spite of Brady's poor play, the Pats still field a top-10 offense in terms of point production.
The ever-resourceful Belichick has handled New England's injury problems as well as one could expect. But he's not the only coach short on personnel. Injuries are part of the game, especially when that game involves fully grown men ramming into each other at full speed for 60 minutes.
There are going to be concussions, broken bones and torn muscles. Every team suffers injuries. They're unavoidable. As a fan watching your favorite players get pummeled in high definition every Sunday, you can only cross your fingers and hope they're still standing when the game ends, or that they're not done for the season when they get stretchered off the field. You hope that when your quarterback gets crushed, he's able to get back up. You pray that luck is on your side.
For much of the year, luck hasn't been on New England's side. The Pats have endured their fair share of injuries and then some. But lately, it seems, their luck has started to turn.
That injured reserve list I mentioned is shrinking. Cornerback AqibTalib and running back Shane Vereen returned to the gridiron against the Panthers on Monday night. Talib, capable of shutting down opponents' best receivers, is New England's most important defender and will provide a big boost. Vereen strengthens the Patriots' ground attack by complementing Stevan Ridley, offering another explosive back for Brady to hand the ball off to.
With about a third of the season left to play, things are starting to come together for New England. Gronkowski looks healthier with each passing week, and Brady is showing signs of putting his disappointing first half behind him. The patchwork defense bends but rarely breaks. After Sunday's upcoming showdown with Denver, the Patriots have a fairly easy schedule in front of them too. Leading a weak division unlikely to challenge their current first place standing, the Pats are virtual locks to reach the playoffs.
Maybe by then, they'll finally be healthy(-ier).
Tyler Maher is a junior who is majoring in economics. He can be reached at Tyler.Maher@tufts.edu.
