2018 snap counts

If nothing else, the NFL season depends on attrition. Just a key injury to a player or two can completely derail the best-laid offseason plans. It happened in the first quarter of the first game of the 2008 Patriots’ season. That’s why you shouldn’t bet on Super Bowl 53 in June.

These days, all that really matters is if Tom Brady, Julian Edelman, Dont’a Hightower and Rob Gronkowski make it to January. Despite any regular season ups and downs these guys have always shown up when the lights are brightest. And they will always give the Patriots a fighting chance in any game, even in, gasp, Kansas City.

Here we are on the playoff bye week and guess what, nobody died. Outside of the disappointing loss of Ja’whaun Bentley and a few guys taking a game off here and there, the 2018 Patriots have remained remarkably healthy and that is everything to their Super Bowl chances.

They’ve got their bumps and bruises for sure, as does every team, but with every key veteran piece accounted for the Pats should still have their best football in front of them.

Here’s a breakdown of who played the most, it’s no surprise the Pats once again gained a first round bye.