The New England Patriots lose to the Detroit Lions 26-10.

Do not be too excited, but the New England Patriots are 1-2. Tom Brady and co. The Lions were dismantled Sunday, losing 26-10 in Detroit. The Patriots may have dominated the NFL over the last fifteen years, but they currently have the same record as the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets. If they were able to die, we could point to it as the moment when the running of New England started to break. But we have already come here and it probably will not happen. Instead, take this opportunity to understand that, at least for a week, Bill Belichick will have to watch the Browns in the AFC standings.

The season debut is not new to the Patriots, but Sunday's game was particularly weak. The Lions put Tom Brady uncomfortably, forcing the quarterback of the universe to make mistakes that he almost never does.

The Lions are coached by former New England defensive coordinator Matt Patricia. The last time we saw Patricia on the Patriots' touchline, he set the pattern for Nick Foles and the Philadelphia Eagles to score 41 points on New England at the Super Bowl LII. His new team was anything but unfortunate Sunday night. The same Detroit defense that made Jets rookie Sam Darnold look like a star earlier this month made Brady, the five-time Super Bowl winner, look like an ordinary Trubisky. It was weird!

The problems for the patriots are pretty glaring. Their reception corps is mediocre (but it will be strengthened when Josh Gordon, talented, will be eliminated). The defense is slow. Their steps back do not seem to like running. All the signs indicate that the Patriots really have problems this time … that's why they are probably very good.

It is worth repeating: we have been here before. New England started the 2012 1-2 regular season, but finished with a 12-4 record. In 2014, they fell to 2-2 after a night on Monday at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs. They were humiliated during the 41-14 defeat and the general belief at the time was that the Pats Dynasty was over. It is this game that inspired the famous Belichick press conference (even by its standards) "We to on Cincinnati".

They beat Cincinnati the following week, 43-17, and finished the season with a 12-4 record. They also won the Super Bowl that year. In other words, it is not new. We will learn a lot about the current New England squad on Sunday when they play the undefeated Miami Dolphins, but until then, count the Patriots at your own risk.

So far: remember that the Cleveland Browns have a better record than the New England Patriots. Have fun with this information as long as possible.