Are the Patriots hitting their stride at the right time of the season?

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Wow.

The New England Patriots' performance at home yesterday in Foxboro against the Jacksonville Jaguars was outstanding.

Is there really any question that the Pats played their best game of the season?

Not a chance.

New England was focused from start to finish. They played like a team with something to play for and they went out and got it. When the final whistle sounded, the Pats had spanked the Jags up and down the field for a 35-7 victory and clinched the AFC East title in the process.

Yes, the Patriots are going dancing once again.

This game just makes you wonder if the Patriots are hitting their stride at just the right of the season.

Who knows?

They've won games recently and played pretty poorly, but it's hard to find anything wrong with Sunday's performance.

Is this the team --strong on offense, defense and special teams -- what we're going to see the rest of the way and into the playoffs?

Let's hope so, but unfortunately teams in the playoffs are much more complete than the Jags.

Any way you look at it, the Pats were rolling Sunday.

Tom Brady rounded back into form by completing 23 of 26 passes for 267 yards and 4 TDs. His QB rating was 149.0.

Randy Moss delivered, too, with 3 of his 4 catches going for TDs, while Wes Welker hauled in 13 catches for 138 yards. The tight end also returned to the passing game which is huge for this offense. Chris Baker actually went out for a pass and didn't block and was rewarded with two catches, including a 26-yard TD. Tight end Benjamin Watson also had a 14-yard reception.

The only negative was Laurence Maroney, who has been money for the last 6 or so games. The former first-rounder fumbled at the goal-line and didn't touch the field again. But backup and usual fullback, Sammy Morris, picked up the slack with 95 yards and a score, while third-down back Kevin Faulk added 41 yards. Fred Taylor, who had been out with a broken ankle, returned with 35 yards on 11 carries against his former team, too.

Basically, the Pats could do no wrong vs. the Jags.

The defense was also sensational, holding special tailback Maurice Jones-Drew to only 63 yards on 18 carries and 3 catches for 35 yards.

And when the Jags fell behind, they had to try to go to the air with David Garrard, who tossed two INTs to Brandon Meriweather and Shawn Springs.

And a big job well done goes out to middle linebacker Jerod Mayo, who was by far and away the most active defender in the game. The second-year pro had a season-high 15 tackles, including 11 of the solo variety. Mayo was a beast in the middle and a big reason why Jones-Drew couldn't break free for any game-changing plays.

It was just a fun game to watch.

As a Patriots fan, you hope there's a few more of these one-sided games left.

The Patriots just might be hitting their stride? If they are, then watch out San Diego and Indianapolis because playing New England won't be a walk in the park.