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BOSTON -- So much for Deflategate having a lasting impact on the Patriots this season.New England has reached the halfway point of its 2016 season and enters its bye week -- surprise -- with the best record in the AFC.The Patriots battled through some early injuries and performed above expectations to go 3-1 with quarterback Tom Brady serving his four-game suspension at the start the season.But theyve quickly climbed back into championship form since his return, posting a 4-0 record and getting even for their lone setback of the season with a dominating 41-25 win over the Bills on Sunday.The numbers speak for themselves.Without Tom Terrific, the Patriots averaged 20.25 points and suffered their first shutout loss at Gillette Stadium -- 16-0 to Buffalo -- on Oct. 2.With Brady the offense is cruising, averaging 34 points and beating opponents by an average of 16.25 points.But Brady thinks his team can play even better.Its pretty early still. Weve got a long way to go, Brady said. I think 7-1 is good, but coach always says seven wins wont get you anything in this league and hes right. So we have a lot of football ahead. This is when it starts to get to feeling like football season.What is undeniable to this point is that New England is without peer in the AFC East where it is 2-1 against division foes. Second-place Buffalo (4-4) is three games behind with a 1/3 division record.Bills coach Rex Ryan said he thinks that anybody outside of the Patriots winning the division is already a longshot.That teams three games up on us and I think at the halfway point theyve lost one game. And No. 12 is back. So, yeah, I dont see that happening, Ryan said. I hope Im wrong.What might be even scarier for opposing AFC teams is that Brady already seems to have gelled with new additions such as Martellus Bennett and Chris Hogan, who are both excelling in their first year in offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels offense.Bennett has four touchdown catches and has caught six passes of at least 20 yards. His 50.2 yards per game average is also just shy of the 57.2 per game he averaged when he was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2014.Meanwhile, Hogan (two touchdowns, 391 yards receiving) is on pace to set career highs in both receiving yards and touchdowns.That doesnt even include the play of tight end Rob Gronkowski, who has posted three 100-yard receiving games and all three of his touchdowns this season since Bradys return.Its all helped to mask the shortcomings of a Patriots defense that has had to battle through injuries and uncharacteristic inconsistency.But that, too, is starting to subside with captain Donta Hightower starting to get into more of a groove after being slowed early by a knee injury.Improving on the defensive side of the ball will be a priority with a post-bye schedule that includes matchups with three NFC West teams, beginning with Seattle on Nov. 13.Well get a lot of teams were not very familiar with, coach Bill Belichick said. Obviously Seattle, Ive got a lot of respect for coach (Pete) Carroll and the Seahawks program, so thats a big test for us.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Kyle Hightower on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/khightower Jerome Bettis Womens Jersey . The Swede became the first golfer to win the PGA Tours FedEx Cup and European Tours Race to Dubai in the same season. "It is still taking a little time to sink in what Ive achieved this week as was the case when I won the FedEx Cup but then it just kept getting better and better as the days went on and I am sure this will be the same," he said. Mike Webster Steelers Jersey . -- Brandon Jennings made the most of his first game with the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night. http://www.steelerspronfl.com/Youth-Heath-Miller-Elite-Jersey/ . The team also announced Tuesday that the Braves will wear a commemorative patch on the right sleeve during the season. The patch, shaped like home plate, carries the number 715, Aarons autograph and a "40th Anniversary" banner. Joe Gilliam Youth Jersey . Didier Drogba gave away the penalty that put Senegal one goal away from a major upset, but the veteran striker will get another chance -- probably his last -- at the World Cup after Salomon Kalous injury-time strike sealed the Ivorians place in Brazil next year. Kevin Greene Womens Jersey . Brad Jacobs and his Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., team took control of the game early. After two more road victories, UConn is now the unanimous No. 1 team in womens college basketball.The Huskies moved back to the top spot in the AP womens basketball poll last week and then beat No. 2 Notre Dame on Wednesday -- as well as topping Kansas State on Sunday to improve their winning streak to 84 consecutive games. UConn received all 33 first-place votes from a national media panel Monday. The Huskies are off this week for exams.Despite the loss, the Irish remain in second. Baylor, Maryland and Mississippi State are next. South Carolina, Florida State, Louisville, UCLA and Stanford round out the first 10 teams in the poll.Arizona State came back into the poll at No. 23, and Oregon entered at 25. Its the Ducks first ranking since 2003.Its nice, Oregon coach Kelly Graves said. Ive been around this game long enough that it only means were playing pretty well and people are noticing.Graves team will get tested quickly, as the Ducks visit CClemson on Monday night.dddddddddddd Oregons lone loss this season came against Mississippi State in Hawaii over Thanksgiving.If we lose tonight against Clemson, were not ranked anymore. Ive never been one to focus on that stuff, were just trying to get better every day, he said. This is a good test for us, as Clemson is 8-0. They have ACC athletes. We go to Ole Miss next, and they have SEC athletes. Wont be an easy trip for a bunch of young kids.The Sun Devils re-entered the top 25 after beating Kentucky in overtime on Sunday in front of 13,225 fans. Florida and Oregon State fell out.The Pac-12 now has six teams in the poll, with the Beavers and Cal just outside.Theres no gimme on the schedule, Graves said of the Pac-12. Thats how good the conference is. Whos the weakling? If you dont find one, that means its you. ' ' '