The New England Patriots have gotten off to a rough start in the 2014 season, and it's opened the eyes of more than a few critics around the country.  Bill Belichick's boys are always supposed to be poised for any situation, accepting the challenge and rising to the occasion when it matters the most.  These Patriots however, seem to be struggling to find their way.

After dropping a nationally televised game by over 20 points, the Patriots record now stands at 2-2 respectively.  Their performance however, leaves much to be desired.  Critics and even some fans are probably writing off the Patriots and benching Tom Brady on their fantasy teams.  While the quarterback has had struggles, there is a much bigger picture to put into perspective.

The New England Patriots are not a bad football team. They are a team with talent all around and a great head coach. However, it takes time to build a cohesive unit that functions like a well oiled machine, even with all the talent on the roster.  Yes the offensive line needs work, and expect Belichick to explore costless agency and bring in some veterans that can hopefully give Brady more time in the pocket.

Offensively, Brady and his crew need to find a rhythm.  Julian Edelman is the one target Brady is in sync with and he is a valuable asset to the offense. Rob Gronkowski has yet to find his way back from his ACL injury last season, but he did have a touchdown at the end of the game against Kansas City off a pass from backup QB Jimmy Garoppolo, fighting off three guys and still making it into the end zone.  New Patriot Brandon LaFell had a bit of a breakout game against the Chiefs, and hopefully it boosts his confidence and he is able to be a weapon for Tom Brady.

The Patriots are struggling, Brady and the offense have no rhythm and their defense has a ton of work to do even with a healthy lineup. They need to stop the run more effectively and they have the assets to do it.  Putting it all together is the challenge that Bill Belichick and his coaching staff are going to face for the rest of the season.  Other AFC teams look very good, the undefeated Cincinnati Bengals could be a possible threat come playoff time, and the Peyton Manning-led Denver Broncos look like a well oiled machine.  

Josh McDaniels needs to find a way to get Brady going again, and that offensive line needs to give him time in order to let Brady make comfortable decisions.

There's absolutely no reason to write-off the Patriots and throw them in the trash bin.  Have they had struggles? Yes, but it is still the beginning of the season and all NFL teams face tough times in the first few weeks.  Trust in Belichick's system, he led this team to a Super Bowl not too long ago. While New England has not won a Super Bowl in a decade, they have always been a threat to win it all every year regardless of who is on the roster.  Bill Belichick has Tom Brady, and he will make this team a cohesive unit, wait and see.

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About the author
Talar Kahwajian
Current Communication Arts at Framingham State University in Framingham, MA. Aspiring sports broadcaster.