The Patriots return to action today after a bye week last week. There are still a lot of question marks regarding this team after their loss to the Ravens two weeks ago.

The Patriots need to get healthy and improve in certain areas in order to get back to the Super Bowl.

Here are five areas the Patriots must improve in if they want to get to Miami.

1. Get healthy: Getting back Isaiah Wynn, N’Keal Harry and Matt LaCosse among others will help this team immensely. The Patriots lack of depth really stood out in the loss to Baltimore. If they want to secure the number one seed in AFC and contend again, they need to get healthy and stay healthy.

2. Run the football better: The Patriots running game has been non existent thus far this season. Despite scoring six touchdowns so far this season, second year running back Sony Michel has been a huge disappointment. He is only averaging 3.3 yards per carry. It is not just Michel. All of the Patriots running backs have struggled thus far. The offensive line not playing well hasn’t helped.

3. Stop the run: The Patriots defense was playing at a historic level until they ran into the Ravens. Baltimore ran all over the Patriots, rushing for 210 yards and a 5.1 yards per carry.

Even before the Ravens game however, there were ominous signs that this defense was struggling against the run. Browns running back Nick Chubb ran all over them the week before the Ravens debacle.

Bottom line, the Patriots run defense needs to be better. If they continue to struggle, it could be an issue come playoff time.

4. Pass protection: The Patriots offensive line has battled injuries and inconsistency. The running game has been an issue and the pass protection hasn’t been what we are accustomed to. Keeping Tom Brady uptight and healthy is priority number one the rest of the season. The Patriots must do a better job of protecting him.

5. Brady needs to be Brady: The GOAT needs to be the GOAT. It is really is that simple. Brady turned it on down the stretch last season and he needs to do the same in the next eight weeks.

At 8-1, the Patriots are still in prime position to make yet another Super Bowl run. They have some issues to address but if they address them in the coming weeks, they will be in prime position to hoist another Lombardi Trophy.