FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) -Seven games into his comeback season, a healthy Tom Brady has the New England Patriots where he wants them - on top of the AFC East.
And now it's November, time for him to really get rolling.
As a starter, Brady is 41-15 in September and October. But once November begins, he's 64-14 in the regular season and playoffs. Now, coming off a bye week with a 5-2 record, he's comfortable again after a left knee injury ended his 2008 season in the opener. He's familiar with an offensive cast that has changed with injuries to running backs Fred Taylor and Sammy Morris and wide receiver Julian Edelman.
``For the most part, guys are in the spots where they need to be,'' Brady said Wednesday. ``We have a pretty good understanding how we're going to attack people. I think everyone's excited for what's ahead.''
The upcoming schedule is much tougher than the one the Patriots have played so far. It starts Sunday in the first of two games against the AFC rival Dolphins and continues the next three weeks when they face the Colts, the division opponent Jets and the currently unbeaten Saints.
That's quite an upgrade from the last two games, wins of 59-0 over Tennessee and 35-7 over Tampa Bay when both opponents were winless.
``We have some great opponents, a lot of division games. This one's a huge game for us,'' Brady said. ``We haven't played Miami yet. They beat us here last year in the worst defeat that we've ever had here at Gillette Stadium.''
That came in the third game, a 38-13 loss with Matt Cassel at quarterback in place of the injured Brady. That was the first game in which the Dolphins used their wildcat offense and they scored on four of the six plays in which they lined up in it.
Last December, Cassel led the Patriots to a 4-0 record and a first-place tie with the Dolphins at 11-5. But that finish couldn't get New England into the playoffs as Miami won the AFC East on the third tiebreaker, conference record. The Patriots would have gotten in if they hadn't lost to Indianapolis 18-15 on a fourth-quarter field goal or to the Jets 34-31 in overtime.
Brady couldn't do anything to help the Patriots then, but he's well aware of the significance of each game, especially those against AFC East opponents.
``To win a division, you have to play good in the division. You're not going to win the division and be 3-3 every year. We're 1-1 in the division right now,'' he said. ``We have four key division games coming up and this one is right at the top of the list.''
The Dolphins are built upon the philosophy of Bill Parcells, their executive vice president for football operations. He likes big, strong, physical players and the defense is loaded with them.
``I think everything that Bill believes in is evident to this team,'' Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. ``All the defensive linemen are all strong. All the linebackers are big. All the outside linebackers can rush. All the corners are big. The running backs are big. The tackles are big. They are a big, powerful team.
``I don't think you could do much better than he's done in his coaching career or general manager career, whatever you want to call it,'' said Belichick, a former defensive coordinator under Parcells.
Those big guys will be taking aim at Brady. So far, the Patriots' most important player hasn't absorbed many hard hits.
``It's just been one of those seasons where there haven't been many sacks,'' he said. ``I understand how to take care of my body and get the treatment I need. It's been a good year thus far.''
Brady is the fourth-rated passer in the AFC. He's completed 65.6 percent of his passes for 293 yards per game with 15 touchdowns - one less than the league leaders - four interceptions and eight sacks.
And now it's November, Brady's traditional time to raise his game.
``You're trying to get your players in the best position possible so that they can go make plays,'' he said. ``Over the years, we have done that. I think that's why I have always enjoyed the later part of the season because your team is what it is at that point. You've really seen what the other defenses can do.''
