Remember all those obituaries that were written on behalf of the Patriots about three weeks ago, after they fell to 5-3 on the strength of back to back losses to the Steelers and the Giants? Never mind.

New England fell behind Philly 10-0 on Sunday, then blew the doors off the Eagles, scoring 38 of the game’s final 48 points. The Patriots are suddenly a very strong-looking 8-3, will be favored in all five of their remaining games and seem a great bet to cruise to one of the AFC’s top two seeds, if not the No. 1 slot.

New England is a tough, resilient bunch, and it has seen it all by now and isn’t scared easily. The Patriots may not make it all the way to the Super Bowl in Indianapolis this season, but in an AFC that looks devoid of greatness, I like their chances as much anyone’s.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/don_banks/11/27/week.12/index.html#ixzz1f1dg0r6r