What happened: New England is heading into at least four games without its top receiver, according to the social context tied to Mike Reiss's report. Vrabel said you do not replace that kind of player and instead outlined a group approach with several different options.

Why it matters: That is why the Patriots feel a tier short of true contention right now. Real contenders can lose one wideout and still have a clear pecking order, but New England's answer sounds more like a weekly search for touches than a passing game that scares defenses.