WINNING LITTLE: THE DION LEWIS EFFECT

Throughout the first half of the 2015 NFL season, the New England Patriots looked unstoppable. They could not be beat. The defending champs looked well on their way to Tom Brady’s seventh Super Bowl of his career, and it didn’t look like anyone was going to stop them.

The Patriots started the season 9-0, but limped to a 3-4 finish. That weak finish helped them lose the number one overall seed in the AFC, which forced them to go to Denver in the conference championship game. So what was the difference between the hot start and brutal (by Patriot Standards) ending?

Dion Lewis.

The Patriots managed a 5 wins after Lewis went down in their week seven matchup with the Redskins, but their offense just was not the same. In Lewis, Belichick finally had his Kevin Faulk/Danny Woodhead type guy that the New England offense loves, but an ACL tear took that away. The Pats simply were not the same after Lewis went down, which brings us to the 2016 season.

The Patriots have gone 8-0 (including last night’s playoff win over the Texans) since Dion Lewis returned from the injury that ended his season last year. Even more impressive, they have done it without the best tight end in football, who they lost to a back injury. Last night in their divisional game against Houston, the 5 foot 8 back accounted for 3 touchdowns (in three different ways!) and brought his record with the Patriots to 15-0. (15-0!). Simply put, number 33 on the Team of the North is a matchup nightmare, and if he’s suited up, good luck.