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Monday Night Observations

I can't reiterate enough how much better the experience of watching the condensed version of NFL games the following day is. I get all the drama, rooting interest and tension with none of the commercials and wasted time. The advantage of being in Europe is I can do this when I wake up in the morning and still finish watching and writing up the game before anyone in the States is awake.

• Tom Brady had three subpar games without Rob Gronkowski heading into Week 14, but against a stout Ravens defense, he cured whatever was ailing him - 10.2 YPA, 406 yards and three TDs.

• Julian Edelman saw huge volume (15 targets) but wasn't efficient, dropping a couple balls and finishing with only seven catches for 73 yards.

 Up three with a few minutes left, the Patriots, rather than sitting on the ball, went for the home run, essentially putting the game out of reach. Note to other NFL coaches, particularly Ben McAdoo: This is something you are also allowed to do. A huge element of NFL success is catching your opponent off balance. Pass when they expect you to run, run when they expect you to pass. That means sometimes calling a play slightly suboptimal to the situation. It's like occasionally playing weak starting poker hands so (1) No one at the table can get a good read on you in any situation; and (2) you have a chance for a huge payout when your surprising hand hits the flop. Chris Hogan being left wide open is like hitting the flop, Brady delivering him a strike for a 79-yard TD is the payout.

• Hogan was a big part of the offense - seven targets, five catches, 129 yards and two rushes. The Patriots still have have a lot of options, but they seemed to want to get Hogan involved Monday night.

• Dion Lewis is squeezed between ace early-down power back LeGarrette Blount and ace third-down option James White. Lewis is good at both, but the Patriots already have top options at both spots. Blount incidentally has outscored Antonio Brown - and every other receiver - in non-PPR this year.

• Kenneth Dixon had only 39 yards on 11 carries and dropped a pass, but he looks powerful, explosive and more than capable as a receiver (eight catches for 42 yards and a TD.) He should be an early-round pick next year if he's healthy heading into draft season.

• Joe Flacco played decently, but spread the ball around so evenly no one receiver benefited much - five players had between 42 and 57 yards receiving.

• The blocked field-goal on which the Patriots defender leapt over the line ruined Justin Tucker's perfect kicking season. He's now 31 for 32 on field-goal attempts, and perfect on PATs.