Rested Or Rusty?

The New England Patriots will answer the age old question that usually follows a bye week. Did the time off leave them rested or rusty?Their last time out was 14 days ago when they throttled the Pittsburgh Steelers 55-31. The challenge is to try and carry that momentum into the Monday Night showdown against the red hot Carolina Panthers who have won five straight games.

The Panthers have been led by their defense which is ranked second in the NFL in yards per game, The Patriots offense comes in as the 12th ranked offense and all indications are that running back Shane Vereen will return to the lineup.

If history is on the Patriots side they should be in good shape as they start the second half of the season. In the last three years New England is a combined 23-1 in the second half, and 84-21 in the second half during the Bill Belichick era.

Live coverage starts at 5:30, kick-off at 8:30 on Sports Radio 92.9 The Ticket, your home for New England Patriots Football.