LaFell's Return Makes The Pats Favorites In Super Bowl 50

(Jan. 28, 2015 - Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America)

When one looks at the eye-popping, head-exploding passing stats through the first 5 games of the season, it is important to remember that, for the most part, Tom Brady is throwing to random receivers. Sure, he has the best tight end in football, Rob Gronkowski, and one of, if not the, best slot receiver in the NFL, Julian Edelman, but the cast of characters after those two is murky at best.

Aaron Dobson, a highly touted 2nd round prospect, has never lived up to expectations and has actually been inactive for the past couple of games. Danny Amendola works harder than anyone, but his small stature and eerily similar characteristics to Edelman makes him ineffective at times. The newly acquired Keshawn Martin was never a receiver, but more of a special teams return man, but has seen a considerable amount of catches since being traded from the Houston Texans. After all the hype surrounding Scott Chandler coming into the season, his soft style of play has made him a shadow of his previous self in Buffalo. Dion Lewis has been a monster, but had anyone heard of him before he took the field for New England? 

This is just further proof of Tom Brady making his receivers better, but that is beside the point.

While Edelman and Gronkowski have been compared the the 2007 team's duo of Randy Moss and Wes Welker, the more options for Brady, the better this team will be. 

Now, please enter Brandon LaFell. After having a monster 2014 campaign in his first season as a Patriot, the stud deep threat was sidelined with a foot injury that has kept him out of the first 5 games of the season. Nonetheless, LaFell has been traveling with the team and practicing before games to try and get in game-ready shape. According to Scott Zolak, who does Patriots color commentary here in Boston, LaFell looks "ready to go" for Week 7. 

The Patriots offense has been overwhelming for most opponents, however, they still need an outside threat. The previously mentioned Aaron Dobson and Keshawn Martin can't burn someone 30-40 yards downfield and haul in a rainbow throw by TB12 like Brandon LaFell can/will. 

As soon as LaFell returns from injury (which looks like this week), this Patriots offense will become even more dangerous. In my opinion, aside from another defensive back, this may be the piece that solves the puzzle to the Patriots winning Super Bowl 50. 

P.S.- Who can forget this? 

By Pete Packowski
​@Pete_BBS