Courtesy of Patriots Wire

After Sunday’s win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the conversion around the Patriots needs to change. They have passed enough tests. It is time to acknowledge that they are a legitimate playoff contender and one of the best teams in the NFL.

What else does this football team need to prove? They beat the Buffalo Bills on the road on Sunday Night Football and they went into Tampa Bay and beat a legitimate Super Bowl contender in the NFC. What else do they need to do to prove to people that they are legitimate playoff and dare I say, Super Bowl contenders in the AFC?

The wins over Buffalo and Tampa Bay negate the narrative that this Patriots team is a byproduct of a weak schedule. If that were the case, they would have beaten the Raiders and possibly the Steelers and lost to the Bills and Bucs. The Patriots are a good football that is well coached and they belong in the contender conversion.

It is interesting to see that most people nationally are not second guessing the Colts being a top seed, but when it comes to the Patriots, it is almost like they are in denial. I get it. Memories of Belichick and Brady and the dynasty probably still trigger them. After all, we are not that far removed from the dynasty years. The Patriots have only really been “bad” for the past two seasons.

The Patriots returning to prominence would be America’s worst football nightmare but that does not mean you deny that they are a good football team and a legitimate contender. You can hate them and acknowledge that they are a good at the same time.

I still somewhat scoff at the notion that this Patriots team is a Super Bowl contender but after Sunday’s win, it might be more acceptable to start thinking that way. I won’t, but Patriots fans feel free to think that way.

The time for passing tests is over. The Patriots are a playoff team and they can win in the playoffs. Provided they still healthy, it is O.K to talk about playoff football around here. They have passed enough tests.