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PATS' START ANYTHING BUT BORING;The highs and lows at the quarter-pole

Published Oct. 11, 2010 10:11 p.m. ET

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FOXBORO - The Patriots' trip to a 3-1 record has included just one game that came down to the final possession and no last-second fireworks. But don't think it was boring.

The Patriots' season, which was interrupted by last week's bye, has been anything but.

On the field, there were surprising results, eye-popping catches and standout performances no one could have predicted. Yet life was more action-packed off the field.

As the Patriots return to Gillette Stadium today to begin working toward Sunday's game against the Ravens, let's take a superlative-style look back at what transpired in the first portion of the season:

MOMENT YOUR HEAD EXPLODED

At roughly 7 p.m. on Tuesday night, the thought of the Patriots trading Randy Moss would be, well, unthinkable. By roughly 8:30 p.m., it was clear nothing you thought before was reality. Not only could the Patriots trade their mercurial future Hall of Fame receiver, but they had been working on it for a week. Moss' exit the next morning made it impossible to immediately shoot down any rumor.

REASON YOU THANKED THE SAINTS FOR WIN IN MIAMI

In July of 2009, New Orleans waived linebacker/long snapper Rob Ninkovich, freeing him up to sign with the Patriots as an afterthought in early August. Who would've believed a year later, he's the one starting at outside linebacker, while Tully Banta-Cain comes off the bench? Ninkovich inexplicably picked off two passes in the first half in the win over the Dolphins.

BREAKOUT STAR SO FAR

Safety Patrick Chung looked lost at times in 2009, contributing on special teams, but rarely seeing the field in the base defense. That sound you hear is the game of football clicking for the second-year player. Chung is second on the team with 34 tackles, adding in a sack, an interception for a touchdown, a blocked punt and a blocked field goal. Yikes.

BIGGEST FLOP SO FAR

The season-ending injury to cornerback Leigh Bodden cast the spotlight on second-year cornerback Darius Butler. That glare was quickly removed, as Butler appears to have lost everything he learned as a rookie. He was beat several times in the first two games, then benched in favor of special teamer Kyle Arrington. Now, the 2009 second-rounder is in a battle just to play.

TOP REASON NOT TO WORRY ABOUT THE MOSS TRADE

If rookie tight end Aaron Hernandez continues his stellar production, you might consider him one of the Patriots' best draft-day steals (behind a former sixth-round pick from Michigan). With 240 receiving yards, he leads the team and is a matchup disaster for opponents. While Moss' skills were electric, the offense had gradually turned to Hernandez for key catches.

TOP REASON TO WORRY ABOUT THE MOSS TRADE

Quarterback Tom Brady will no longer be throwing to him. That's it. A receiver who can burn two defenders, then reach up and make a one-handed catch in the end zone, is gone. While the Patriots will not cancel the season, their breathtakingly electric deep threat now wears purple. The offense will change accordingly, but can they still score from anywhere?

MOMENT YOUR HEAD EXPLODED, PART II

Waking on Sept. 10 at 7:30 a.m. to phone calls furiously asking about Tom Brady's car accident was not the ideal situation. For roughly two hours, while erroneous reports flooded the media and some national outlets reported police used the jaws of life to free Brady from his car, there was panic. Eventually, the truth came out. Brady was unhurt in the accident, and he would practice. That didn't stop TV helicopters from circling the facility.

BEST CAMEO PERFORMANCE

Former Jets receiver Danny Woodhead is now a Patriots running back. Once thought to be merely a vehicle to receive information on Gang Green, Woodhead has turned that notion on its ear. Two games, 12 touches, 89 yards, and one touchdown later, Woodhead is suddenly a viable option on third down. In other words, you haven't seen the last of the diminutive player.

WORST CAMEO PERFORMANCE

Patriots running back Kevin Faulk, through no fault of his own, turned in the most damaging two-game sting in recent memory. Faulk's final carry against the Jets resulted in a torn ACL, and the veteran leader and prolific third-down specialist was relegated to the sidelines. He watches with a heavy heart.

THE MIA AWARD

This is an easy one. Guard Logan Mankins has sat home, caring for his new baby and waiting for a new contract. Meanwhile, the offensive line casually moved on, averaging 4.3 yards per carry and giving up just five sacks, which is fifth best. Mankins would help the productivity of the line, but guard Dan Connolly's performance has been just good enough to make it a moot point.

THE DIDN'T-YOU-USED-TO-PLAY-HERE AWARD

Former first-round running back Laurence Maroney always was a topic of conversation, from his tap-dancing to his vows to show critics he could play. Since he was traded to Denver, his name rarely comes up. Perhaps that's because he's averaging just 1.3 yards per carry for his new team, while replacement BenJarvus Green-Ellis is at 4.6 yards per carry for the Pats -- with no dancing at all.

QUICKEST STATEMENT

The Patriots struggled mightily on special teams in 2009, with a poor punter and lacking return units. All it took was 30 minutes and change for Brandon Tate to alter the outlook. The speedy receiver, who left North Carolina as the NCAA's leader in the category, took a kickoff back 97 yards for a score against the Bengals. Suddenly, special teams were a weapon. Two blocked kicks and another Tate touchdown against the Dolphins only solidified it. The Patriots will feature all three units this year.

Check out our Patriots blog, The Rap Sheet, at bostonherald.com.

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