The New England Patriots offense scored 31 points against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night and it did so despite missing three of its core players: running back Sony Michel missed the contest because of a knee injury, tight end Rob Gronkowski was out with ankle and back issues, and right guard Sh

The New England Patriots offense scored 31 points against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night and it did so despite missing three of its core players: running back Sony Michel missed the contest because of a knee injury, tight end Rob Gronkowski was out with ankle and back issues, and right guard Shaq Mason was deactivated after hurting his calf last week.

While it remains to be seen how quickly Gronkowski and Mason will return from https://www.patriotsfanstore.com/Irving-Fryar-Jersey , their respective injuries — with the Patriots’ bye week coming up it would not be a surprise if they were held out until week 11 —, Michel appears to be right on track to play against the Tennessee Titans: according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the first-round draft pick is “likely to return” to the game-day roster on Sunday.Schefter notes that all Michel needs is “a good week of practice with no setbacks.” The rookie, who leads the team with 422 rushing yards and four scores, has been sidelined since suffering a knee injury during week seven’s game against the Chicago Bears. Since then, the Patriots used wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson and receiving back James White as their primary options in the ground game.While it would not be a surprise if New England limited Michel’s snap count in case he indeed returns this week, seeing him close to a return is certainly good news for the Patriots. The 23-year old, after all, has become a big part of the Patriots’ offensive attack as the team’s early down back before hurting his knee.[UPDATE 11/11] According to Schefter, Michel is indeed “likely to play” versus the Titans today. Seven weeks into the 2018 regular season, the AFC East looks like it has for most of the last two decades: the New England Patriots reside comfortably at the top of the standings while the team’s three rivals are moving somewhere between .500 and already being in a position to start looking ahead to the draft. Before getting ahead of ourselves John Hannah Color Rush Jersey , however, let’s take a look at what happened this week in the latest edition of the AFC East Report:1. New England Patriots (6-2)Week 8: 25-6 win against the Buffalo Bills, in Orchard Park NYTo watch highlights of the game, click here.2. Miami Dolphins (4-4)Week 8: 42-23 loss against the Houston Texans, in Houston TXSince starting the year with a perfect 3-0 record, the Miami Dolphins have dropped four of their last five games. The latest of the team’s defeats came on Thursday night at the hands of the Houston Texans, who blew out Adam Gase’s squad 42-23. As a result, the Dolphins now find themselves at 4-4 on the year and are already looking up in the race for a wild card playoff spot — and the momentum is certainly not on the team’s side at the moment either.Miami, again with backup Brock Osweiler (21/37, 241 yds, 1 INT) under center, began the game on offense and actually moved the football well early on. However, the opening drive stalled when the team failed to convert a 4th and 1 in Houston territory. The Dolphins’ next series again saw the team drive down the field Tedy Bruschi Jersey , and this time it actually scored thanks to a 12-yard touchdown run by Kenyan Drake (14 touches/95 yds, 2 TDs). Unfortunately for Miami, things started to go downhill from that point on.After the Texans tied the game, Osweiler threw an interception deep on the Dolphins’ side of the field that was converted into a Houston touchdown just two plays later. Miami was able to answer with a field goal but was lucky that a fumble by Osweiler late in the second period – one that would have been recovered by the Texans for a touchdown – was instead ruled an incomplete pass. As a result, Miami was down by just four point entering halftime.Coming out of intermission, the deficit went up to 11 when the team’s defense surrendered a six-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. This time, Miami’s offense responded appropriately: a fake screen ended with ex-Patriot Danny Amendola (5/43 yds) throwing a 28-yard touchdown pass to Drake to make it a 21-17 game. However, the score did not stand long as the Dolphins’ defense surrendered a touchdown – a 73-yard pass – just two plays after Amendola’s.A subsequent Miami field goal made the contest a one-possession game again, but the team’s defense once more failed to stop the Texans on the next series: another long touchdown pass – this time from 49 yards out – put the team coached by former Patriots assistant Bill O’Brien up 35-20. After another Dolphins field goal, Houston scored its next touchdown; one that effectively iced the game in the home team’s favor.To watch highlights of the game, click here.3. New York Jets (3-5)Week 8: 24-10 loss against the Chicago Bears, in Chicago ILThe New York Jets’ inconsistent season continued on Sunday against the Chicago Bears. While the team can draw some positives from the game – the offense did not turn the football over Rob Gronkowski Jersey Black Friday , the defense was competitive for stretches – it failed to string together enough plays to seriously challenge the Bears on the road. Part of the problem was, once again, a Jets offense that went just 3 of 14 on third down, was forced to punt eight times, and at the end of the day scored a mere 10 points.After New York opened the contest with a three-and-out, Chicago drove right down the field but came away empty when it missed a 40-yard field goal attempt. The Jets could not take advantage, though, and after another quick series had to watch the home team drive 88 yards in just three plays to go up 7-0. After Gang Green scored a field goal on the very next drive, the game turned into a punt-fest: the first half ended with six consecutive punts on both sides.The second half began the same way, as the teams exchanged punts before the Bears began to find some success against New York’s defense. The result was a nine-play, 55-yard drive that ended with the game’s second touchdown – one that put New York in an 11-point hole midway through the third quarter. After another Jets punt, the Bears added to their lead and scored a field goal to go up 17-3 early in the fourth period.Down two scores, the Jets offense produced its best series of the game. The unit marched 75 yards in eight plays https://www.patriotsfanstore.com/Tom-Brady-Jersey , capped by a touchdown pass from rookie quarterback Sam Darnold (14/29, 153 yds, 1 TD) to rookie tight end Chris Herndon (1/16 yds, 1 TD). However, the team was unable to take advantage of the momentum shifting slightly to its side: the defense gave up another long touchdown drive that made the contest a two-possession game again.The Jets offense failed to answer and after the eighth punt saw Chicago run down the clock to the two-minute warning. The ensuing New York drive produced no points and ended as time ran out.To watch highlights of the game, click here.4. Buffalo Bills (2-6)Week 8: 25-6 loss against the New England Patriots, in Orchard Park NYNotes from Buffalo Rumblings:To watch highlights of the game, click here.