The regular season is a mere two weeks away. How do you feel about the New England Patriots?

Did last Thursday’s 40-9 loss at Detroit cause any concern?

It shouldn’t.

Even though the Patriots were tossed around like rag dolls by the Lions for most of the night, there is no other team in the NFL that responds to adversity like New England.

And, remember, it is the preseason. Yes, it was the third preseason game — the one considered most important in terms of getting the starters plenty of playing time — but the Patriots have struggled in this game recently.

They have now lost the third preseason game in each of the last four years. Yet in the previous three regular seasons, they have gone 39-9.

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How will they do this year? Bill Belichick made it clear in his conference call Friday night that the Patriots hold their fate in their hands.

“We just need to go out and have a good week of practice and do things a lot better than we did them (Thursday) night, that’s all,” he said. “Nobody is going to do it for us. We’re going to have to go out there.

“Nobody but us can make things any better than they were (Thursday) night. We have to go out there and do something about it.”

There were some disconcerting things about that game Thursday, though. The offensive line, considered a strength coming into training camp, was manhandled by the Lions defensive front.

Maybe that was to be expected because teams with big, mean defensive fronts — and the Lions, with Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley are as mean as anyone — traditionally give the Patriots fits.

And the Patriots are short-handed at that position. Injuries have limited Dan Connolly — the returning starting right guard — and Marcus Cannon — the top reserve — in training camp, although Connolly did get in for a couple of series against Detroit. Will Svitek has filled in and done well, but against the Lions he was simply overmatched.

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The offensive line has to play well for this team to succeed. In the first two preseason games, both victories, New England rushed for 387 yards — averaging 6.7 yards a carry. When you do that, you give Tom Brady time to throw. He was 18-for-20 in the first two games.

When you can’t run the ball — New England only gained 68 yards rushing against Detroit, averaging 2.3 yards — well, Brady is usually going to be in trouble. And he was against the Lions.

New England lost three fumbles and Brady threw an interception in the first half.
Shane Vereen and Brandon Bolden didn’t play after their fumbles, and if tight end Zach Sudfeld did, he was pretty much invisible.

“Ball security is very important to anybody who handles the ball in any situation,” Belichick said. “There can be no mistake about the importance of it. There can be no mistake about that message. The message has been delivered ad nauseum.”

The thing to remember about that game — and next Thursday’s preseason finale against the New York Giants — is that the Patriots are still coming together.

Brady is learning to throw to, other than Julian Edelman, a new group of receivers. Rookies will play a big role in the passing game and no one has impressed more than Kenbrell Thompkins, an undrafted free agent from Cincinnati who just might start opposite Danny Amendola.

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The secondary, considered the weak link in the defense, looked good at times but is still learning to communicate. Aqib Talib at one corner makes it immeasurably better. And Devin McCourty at one safety is a lock.

But will Kyle Arrington, or Alfonzo Dennard, or rookie Logan Ryan (who is getting more playing time than any other defensive back), man the other corner? Who will be the other safety? It was thought that Adrian Wilson, a big hitter signed as a free agent, would start, but he played well into the second half with the second team against Detroit. Did that mean anything? Is he on the bubble? If so, does that mean Steve Gregory will be the other safety?

Much will be determined in the next 10 days or so. The Patriots have to cut their roster of 84 down to 75 by Tuesday, then down to 53 after the last preseason game.

There appear to be a lot of players on the bubble right now, including guys like Wilson, Tim Tebow (who didn’t play Thursday), Bolden, safety Tavon Wilson, defensive end Jake Bequette and tight end Daniel Fells.

Belichick can’t say who will, or won’t, be here come Sept. 8, when the Patriots open the season at Buffalo.

All he knows is that the team has to be better than it showed Thursday.

“There were a few good individual plays here and there,” he said. “But overall we can’t play like that and expect to do well against a good team.”


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