Tom Brady says the Patriots’ 8-1 record doesn’t matter

Records are deceiving at this time of year.

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If the New England Patriots’ most recent loss reminded us anything, it’s that records can be deceiving. New England (8-1) fell to the Baltimore Ravens (7-2), 37-20. An even more dramatic upset took place in Week 10, with the Atlanta Falcons (2-7) beating the New Orleans Saints (7-2).

So while New England is in sole ownership of the AFC’s top seed, Brady isn’t putting to much stock into the Patriots’ 8-1 record after 10 weeks.

“What I think is at this point, it doesn’t matter,” Brady told Jim Gray during an appearance on Westwood One Radio on Monday. “Because 8-1 means nothing. In 2001, we won the Super Bowl and we were 5-5. In 2015, we were 10-0 and we lost four of our last six. You don’t have to look far. You look at the NHL — how were the St. Louis Blues halfway into (last) season? How were the Houston Astros two months into the season? Not very good. The point is any team at this point, their season is going to be determined by what happens the next seven weeks of football. Not the last nine or 10 — the next seven are going to determine what happens to these teams, their seedings, the playoffs and all that.

“And from our standpoint, I’m happy we’re 8-1, but I really want us to play our best football as we move forward. Everything that’s happened to this point, we’ve got to learn from, we’ve got to use it, and we’ve got to use those things and execute under pressure against the competition that’s going to be at it’s toughest. I’m looking forward to a great opportunity for our team.”

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