Top 5 NFL storylines heading into Week 5

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Sep 29, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Tamba Hali (91) hits New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) while passing during the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs won 41-14. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /

5. What has happened to the Patriots?

After Week 1, I wrote that Tom Brady and Bill Belichick were facing their most difficult test as a tandem this season. Following Monday night’s debacle they are making me look like a genius.

As the Patriots were getting smacked around by the Kansas City Chiefs 41-14, it was painfully clear that the team has absolutely no playmakers on offense. Years of trading down in the draft, stockpiling later round picks and selecting an endless parade early-round defensive players have left Brady without talent around him on offense. Can anyone guess the last time the Patriots spent a first-round pick on an offensive skill player? It was 2006, when they took Laurence Maroney.

Brady looked awful against the Chiefs. Deuces were wild for the future Hall of Famer, as he was sacked twice, fumbled twice (one lost) and threw two interceptions. His list of receivers is at a Johnny Cash’s version of “Hurt” level of depressing. Julian Edelman is by far his top target and that isn’t reassuring, Rob Gronkowski looked like he was carrying Andy Reid on his back while running patterns Monday night, Brandon LaFell is woefully inconsistent, Danny Amendola is an injured reserve spot waiting to happen and Aaron Dobson has been inactive for the last two weeks. None of those guys can create separation and neither Stevan Ridley nor Shane Vereen is doing much on the ground. It doesn’t matter how good Brady still is, he has nothing to work with.

I know Belichick is one of the greatest coaches ever, but the past few seasons have proven that he is a terrible general manager. You can’t win in this league without talented skill players no matter how smart your scheme is and how much depth you have on defense.

Brady is a sitting duck out there and on Monday night we saw what has become of New England’s decade-and-a-half run as the NFL’s most feared team. It’s crumbling at the 37-year-old quarterback’s feet.

Things don’t get easier for the Patriots, as they welcome the undefeated Cincinnati Bengals to Gillette Stadium on Sunday night. We’ll see if Coach Palpatine and his trusty quarterback can figure out how to turn things around.

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