The New England Patriots defeated the Cincinnati Bengals in convincing fashion, setting a season-high in rushing yards and locking down the Bengals offense for most of the game. But what should Patriots fans take away from this game?

Is the offense back on track, or is this just the result of playing the worst team in the league? Is the running game for real, or should we be concerned about the lack of a passing attack? What's the deal with Julian Edelman and Mohamed Sanu? And just how much can the team rely on the defense to carry the team?

Or, perhaps we should embrace the fact that the Patriots have the best defense since 2002, and one of the best defenses in NFL history, and that should be enough to buoy a decidedly mediocre offensive attack. Cornerback Stephon Gilmore continues to make his case for defensive player of the year, while Jamie Collins, Kyle Van Noy, and the rest of the defense are still playing at a high level.

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