When Mike Vrabel took over as Patriots head coach, he admitted he wasn't sure his team was prepared "to take advantage of bad football."

He got an emphatic answer Sunday in New England's 42-13 rout of the Panthers .

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Poor tackling on a punt return? Took advantage.

Unable to set an edge in the red zone? Took advantage.

Tripping penalty on a second-and-26 snap? Took advantage.

More screwed up punt coverage? Took advantage again.

It was 28-6 by halftime, and the Panthers had bad-footballed themselves right out of the game. The Patriots, meanwhile, showed themselves to be the kind of team Vrabel wasn't sure he had back in January.

Whether they can maintain their status as beneficiaries of bad football remains to

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