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It's been a long time since the New England Patriots had anything but a top 10 offense. So long, it seems almost unfathomable.


But through week 5 of the 2013 season, there the Patriots sit, not in the top 5 or top 10 offenses, but instead at No. 18.

Losing almost every offensive weapon from last season's top ranked offense will do that.

The Patriots lost tight end Aaron Hernandez and wide receivers Wes Welker and Brandon Lloyd. Tight end Rob Gronkowski missed the first five games of the season with back/forearm issues, running back Shane Vereen went on short term injured reserve, while Stevan Ridley and Danny Amendola have been hampered with injuries.

Gronkowski is expected to make his return when the Patriots host the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, which would give quarterback Tom Brady one of his biggest weapons back.

So far, he's been working with a cast of mostly unknowns. Receivers Kenbrell Thompkins, Aaron Dobson are rookies. Their leading receiver is Julian Edelman, who with 354 yards, has already surpassed last season's total of 235.

So with a drastically altered offense, the results haven't been pretty to date.

But until a last-ditch pass from Brady was intercepted by Cincinnati Bengal's Adam "Pacman" Jones at the Bengals' 3-yard line to perserve a 13-6 victory last Sunday, it was also working.

The Patriots (4-1) may be ranked No. 21 in passing offense and No. 14 in rushing offense. But they're also currently ranked No. 1 in the AFC East.

Those are the numbers the Saints have been focusing on this week.

Read more: New Orleans Saints defense won't sleep on the New England Patriots offense | NOLA.com

homerj07

They run well. With Ridley back it should be better.