New England Patriots

3 Ripple effects of New England Patriots winning in Week 6

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

Tom Brady (12) and the Patriots stand atop the AFC. Credit: Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports

The New England Patriots soared to a big win in Week 6 over the Cincinnati Bengals that sent waves throughout the NFL.

Here are three ripple effects of the New England Patriots emerging victorious after yesterday afternoon’s showdown with the Bengals.

3. Alone atop the AFC

With the Oakland Raiders, Denver Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers all falling flat in Week 6, the Patriots now find themselves alone atop the AFC. With 10 games to go, the Patriots have the inside track on the all-important No. 1 seed.

Of course, this is no time to dwell on that fact. As early as next week against a Steelers team that was humbled on Sunday, the Patriots face big tests within the conference. In Week 8, the Pats hit the road to attempt revenge against the streaking Buffalo Bills, and the Broncos await the Patriots in Week 15 (don’t forget about the interconference test after the bye week against the Seattle Seahawks).

But for the time being, the Patriots’ win in Week 6 catapulted them to the top of the conference. That’s always a nice feeling to have, no doubt.

Rob Gronkowski (87) spiked for the first time in 2016. Credit: Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports

2. The tight end duo is scary good

This is exactly what Patriots fans were hoping for when the team traded for Martellus Bennett to pair with Rob Gronkowski in the offseason. To illustrate the sheer enormity of this duo, let’s look at the product you get when you combine Bennett and Gronk.

Put together, Bennett and Gronk stand three feet above an NBA basketball hoop and weight 540 pounds. And yesterday, the two star tight ends combined for 12 receptions, 210 yards and a touchdown.

For the first time this season, it was actually Bennett who played second fiddle to Gronkowski. It was good to see Gronk get going; since Brady’s return, Gronk has ripped off 271 yards receiving. And don’t think that Bennett is complaining about Gronk being back to his usual self; the more damage Gronk inflicts, the more desirable one-on-one matchups Bennett will face.

It is awesome to watch these two in action together.

Rob Gronkowski (87) got under the Bengals’ skin in Week 6. Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

1. This team has attitude

Bill Belichick has probably already chewed out Gronkowski and LeGarrette Blount for engaging in extracurricular affairs, but you have to like the fire this Patriots team is playing with right now.

The Patriots are the best team in the AFC, and it’s good to see them knowing it and forcing their will upon opponents. Perhaps the most trash talking team in football, the Bengals needed to be put in their place late in Week 6. Patriots fans had to like seeing Gronk exchanging words with Vontaze Burfict and Adam Jones after big gains.

In a tightly contested game, you wouldn’t have seen Gronk and Blount draw these 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. Then, Belichick would really be mad and this wouldn’t land on the ripple effects article. But it was alright for the Patriots to assert themselves in garbage time with a padded lead.