Paul Perillo of Patriots Football Weekly provides a closer look at Seattle's Week 10 opponent:
1. After missing the first four games of the season, Tom Brady has returned to the Patriots without missing a beat. How has Brady been able to miss a chunk of time like that and jump right back into the MVP conversation?
Perillo:That has been one of the truly remarkable aspects of the season for the Patriots. Brady looked as good as ever during training camp and the preseason, but to see him step right in without any noticeable rust has been amazing. He spent a lot of time working with receivers both individually and during live work at camp and it looks like that work has paid off. Brady is as prepared as any quarterback I've seen and his mental approach to the game is probably more impressive than anything he does physically. Perhaps that's one reason why he was able to overcome the time he missed so seamlessly.
2. How do Brady's two tight ends, Rob Gronkowski and Marcellus Bennett, complement each other in the Patriots offense?
Perillo:Both have uncommon athleticism for the position combine with a willingness to block. What makes the tandem so effective is it gives the Patriots the ability to do whatever it wants depending on the look of the defense. If teams load up the box expecting the run, both are capable of doing damage in the passing game with Gronk consistently getting down the seam while Bennett has shown the ability to work underneath and make yards after the catch. If teams play sub with lighter fronts, they both can overpower smaller defenders as effective blockers and allow the offense to run the ball well without having to sub. In short, the Patriots don't allow the defense to dictate what it does.
3. Elandon Roberts is filling Jamie Collins' role on defense now. What has Roberts done so far this season to be one of the bigger surprises on the team?
Perillo: He's been a nice surprise with his ability to play physical against the run. He's not the biggest guy (6-2, 235) but he's sort of an old school thumper who takes on blocks and fills the gaps. I'm not sure how long he will be able to hold up playing that style at his limited size, but he's earned some playing time with his physicality.
4. The rosters of the Patriots and Seahawks are both filled with undrafted players. What has led to the Patriots being able to build so much talent over the years?
Perillo: Bill Belichick always tells the players that it doesn't matter how you got here, only what you do once you get here. So he's done a really good job of ignoring draft position, etc., and playing the guys who perform. He consistently finds players who can fill very specific roles, often on special teams, and once those players settle in he occasionally expands those roles to include offense or defense. Malcolm Butler is a great example of an undrafted player who was terrific as a rookie during camp. He made the roster and didn't play much other than special teams. As the season wore on, he started to see time as an extra DB and eventually saw his playing time increase. By his second year, he was starting.
5. Butler has proven to be one of the league's best DBs since his huge play in Super Bowl XLIX. What has changed/evolved for Butler on the field since that game?
Perillo:Other than his reputation, not much. We recently ran a feature on this topic on Patriots.com and Butler in many ways remains the same hard-working, humble kid he was in his rookie season. He's definitely confident, as most cornerbacks are, but he insists he hasn't changed his approach in any way over the years. He said he doesn't want to be defined by one play and has worked really hard to establish himself as one of the league's best corners.
Get to know the faces of the New England Patriots' offensive and defensive units heading into the team's Week 10 matchup with the Seattle Seahawks.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) smiles during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
New England Patriots wide receiver Chris Hogan (15) walks on the sidelines during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
New England Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola (80) looks on from the sidelines during a week 7 NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Oct 23, 2016, in Pittsburgh. The Patriots won 27-16. (Scott Boehm via AP)
New England Patriots tackle Nate Solder looks on in the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
New England Patriots' Joe Thuney (62) reacts on the bench during an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016, in Cleveland. New England won 33-13. (AP Photo/David Richard)
New England Patriots rookie offensive lineman Shaq Mason looks on from the sidelines during action against the New Orleans Saints during a preseason NFL football game in New Orleans on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015. The Patriots won the game, 26-24. (G. Newman Lowrance via AP)
New England Patriots' David Andrews (60) reacts on the bench during an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016, in Cleveland. New England won 33-13. (AP Photo/David Richard)
New England Patriots offensive lineman Marcus Cannon (61) rests during an NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016, in Glendale, Az. The Patriots won the game, 23-21. (Greg Trott via AP)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) has a hearty laugh while joking with a teammate as he gets set to do a postgame television interview after the 2016 NFL week 8 regular season football game against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016 in Orchard Park, N.Y. The Patriots won the game 41-25. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
New England Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett (88) rests during an NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016, in Glendale, Az. The Patriots won the game, 23-21. (Greg Trott via AP)
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) looks on from the sidelines during a week 7 NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Oct 23, 2016, in Pittsburgh. The Patriots won 27-16. (Scott Boehm via AP)
New England Patriots running back James White smiles before a NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016. (Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)
New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount (29) walks off the field after a NFL game against the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass. on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. The Patriots defeated the Texans 27-0. (Kirby Lee/NFL)
New England Patriots defensive end Chris Long during a NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016. (Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)
New England Patriots defensive tackle Alan Branch during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
New England Patriots defensive lineman Malcom Brown (90) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
New England Patriots defensive tackle Vincent Valentine during a NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016. (Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)
New England Patriots defensive lineman Jabaal Sheard (93) looks on as he walks off the playing field during a week 7 NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Oct 23, 2016, in Pittsburgh. The Patriots won 27-16. (Scott Boehm via AP)
New England Patriots defensive lineman Trey Flowers (98) looks on as he walks off the playing field during a week 7 NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Oct 23, 2016, in Pittsburgh. The Patriots won 27-16. (Scott Boehm via AP)
New England Patriots inside linebacker Elandon Roberts during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Sunday, oct. 16, 2016. (Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)
New England Patriots linebacker Barkevious Mingo (51) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
New England Patriots outside linebacker Dont'a Hightower (54) smiles on the sideline during the 2016 NFL preseason football game against the Carolina Panthers on Friday, Aug. 26, 2016 in Charlotte, N.C. The Patriots won the game 19-17. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
New England Patriots' Rob Ninkovich before an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Sunday, oct. 16, 2016. (Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)
New England Patriots Logan Ryan looks on from the sidelines against the Denver Broncos during an NFL AFC Championship football game, Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016, in Denver. The Broncos won the game, 20-18. (G. Newman Lowrance via AP)
New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
New England Patriots strong safety Patrick Chung leaves the field after their preseason NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
July 31, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots defensive back Devin McCourty (32) takes the field during New England Patriots Training Camp at Gillette Stadium. Anthony Nesmith/Cal Sport Media (Cal Sport Media via AP Images)
New England Patriots' Stephen Gostkowski (3) reacts on the bench during an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016, in Cleveland. New England won 33-13. (AP Photo/David Richard)
New England Patriots punter Ryan Allen (6) on the field for team warm ups prior to a NFL preseason football game against the New York Giants on Thursday, Sept 1, 2016 in East Rutherford, N.J. The Giants defeated the Patriots 17-9. (Jim Mahoney via AP)
New England Patriots Joe Cardona #49 is seen on the sidelines against the Pittsburgh Steelers during an NFL football game, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
