Are the New England Patriots the best team in the NFL?

On paper, it's a simple question with a simple answer. No team in the league has a better record than the Patriots, who are 11-2 after a 33-15 beatdown of the New York Giants on Monday Night Football . Best record equals best team, right?

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There's nuance to the conversation, though, and it involves New England's historically easy schedule.

The Patriots have enjoyed the league's softest slate by a fairly decent margin; the combined win percentage of their opponents (.342) is the worst in the NFL, and by season's end, they'll have played a whopping 11 games against teams that sit in the bottom 12 of the league's standings entering Week 14.

So, is Mike Vrab

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