New England's injury-plagued season has not gotten appreciably worse this week, as the team is dealing mainly with problems it has already proved capable of compensating for. Punter Ryan Allen (shoulder) is questionable, but (a) the Patriots did not sign a second punter this week, suggesting that Allen is probably fine; and (b) placekicker Stephen Gostkowski was astounding as an emergency fill-in for Allen last week, booting balls 52 and 53 yards in what were reportedly his first two punts at any level. The lesson, as always: never doubt New England's ability to adapt. And another case in point: rookie WRs Aaron Dobson (foot) and Kenbrell Thompkins (hip) are both questionable again this week, but when we worried a week ago that their injuries might cut way down on the explosiveness of the passing game, Bill Belichick & Co. led with the run instead, with RB LeGarrette Blount paving the way to the AFC Championship.
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January 18, 2014
