FOXBOROUGH – If you think of the New England Patriots’ season as a physical and mental marathon, then three games in is like hitting Mile 4.5. In Boston Marathon terms, your Patriots are still in Ashland.

So to everyone calling for Rhamondre Stevenson’s head after two fumbles, or insisting “this is the same as Jerod Mayo’s Patriots,” take a breath. It’s early. Sure, the bad feelings are real—lingering nearly 18 hours later. The Patriots managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

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