National Football Post ranks them 4th (+2):  Where is the panic in New England? The Pats are back where they belong—atop the AFC East.

The Sporting News ranks them 4th (+2):  As often happens, they seem positioned to have a strong November and December.

Cold Hard Football Facts ranks them 4th (+2):  Last week: 35-7 win “at” Tampa Bay. Randy Moss and Wes Welker have produced 57 first downs between them – more than the entire passing games of Tennessee, Buffalo, Cleveland, San Francisco and Oakland.

What If Sports ranks them 5th (-1)

Peter King at SI ranks them 5th (nc):  Pats 94, TitanBucs 7 over the past two weeks, on two continents.

Fox Sports ranks them 5th (+1):  Are the 2007 Patriots back? This year's bunch sure has looked perfect in pasting the Titans and Bucs by a 94-7 combined score the last two weeks. Of course, those two teams are a "perfect" 13-for-13 in the loss column this season. After the bye week, Brady's buds kick off a challenging five-game stretch that includes three tough division games, plus must-see matchups with the Colts and Saints.

ESPN ranks them 5th (+1):  The Titans and Bucs gave the Patriots two nice exhibition games before the bye week.

Yahoo! Sports ranks them 5th (+2):  Yo, Victoria Beckham – are you aware that according to the Times of London, Tom Brady is “The Real Golden Balls”?.

CBS Sports ranks them 5th (+2): Nothing like getting the Tennessee Titans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in successive weeks to help fix all that ails you. Tom Brady has come alive.

Don Banks ranks them 5th (+1):  It feels utterly weird to write this, but the Patriots actually feel like an under-the-radar team these days. The road losses to the Jets and Broncos made them look downright vulnerable, and the blowouts against the winless Titans and Bucs haven't really earned them much respect. In other words, Bill Belichick and the boys have us exactly where they want us. Not paying close enough attention.

USA Today ranks them 5th (+1):  No more cupcakes on schedule after their bye.

ProFootball Weekly ranks them 6th (+1):  Message sent to Bucs QB Josh Johnson: Clear off, lad!

WEEI ranks them 6th (nc):  The Patriots head into their bye week at a perfect time as they are a little beat up. Ty Warren and Randy Moss were the latest Patriots players to suffer injuries. This is a good time for the Pats to heal up and prepare for a tough schedule ahead — Miami, at Indy, Jets and at New Orleans will be no easy task.

AVERAGE RANK:  4.92 (+1.08)