NFL Week 6 Storylines: Brady’s back, Romo rules, Rivers MVP

3. Tom Brady thanks you for questioning him

After a week of people ripping the New England Patriots following their complete collapse against the Kansas City Chiefs last Monday, Tom Brady and Bill Belichick righted the ship in a big way Sunday night. The Patriots ripped the previously unbeaten Cincinnati Bengals 43-17 and looked like the kind of team we expect to see playing at Gillette Stadium.

The NFL is littered with great players, but there’s probably nothing scarier than a pissed off Tom Brady. He and Belichick lit a fire under the team and had it clicking on all cylinders against the Bengals. I almost felt bad for Andy Dalton and company, taking on the Patriots after that loss in Kansas City was a terrible assignment to draw. We all knew they were going to bounce back and show us all how badly we were overreacting.

Belichick may brood on the sidelines like one of the goth kids from “South Park,” but the guy knows what he’s doing and he can still gameplan with the best of them. He still doesn’t have any legitimate weapons for Brady, since Rob Gronkowski is still recovering, but even “Yo Soy Fiesta” looked good on Sunday night.

The Patriots are now 3-2 and tied for first place in the AFC East with Buffalo, who they face in Week 6. Incidentally, that Bills team is starting this man at quarterback. Tell me Brady and Belichick aren’t salivating at the prospect of running through the rest of a terrible division right now.

The Pats were buried a few days ago, now they’re staring another division title right in the face. The NFL was put on notice Sunday night, New England is not quite dead yet.

What a difference a week makes.