Light

FOXBORO — It may not be seem as prolific and explosive as last year’s record-setting offense, with Tom Brady and Randy Moss providing highlight-worthy touchdown hookups nearly every week, but this year’s version of the New England Patriots isn’t too shabby.

Especially in recent weeks, as the Patriots have scored a total of 120 points against Seattle, Oakland and Arizona.

“I think we are improving,” offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said after Sunday’s 47-7 drubbing of the Cardinals, in which the Patriots posted more than 500 yards of total offense for the third time this season.

“With the players, it goes back to practice. The players are seeing the dividends that good weeks and days of practice are having. It’s a credit to the way they are working. They come in on Wednesday morning and we’re working hard Wednesday through Saturday evening. The more [good sessions] we string together in practice, the better our performances have been. Our players see that. Hopefully we’re building right now to our best performance of the year.”

It would be quite a feat for New England to improve on last week’s output. In racking up 514 yards against the Cardinals, it converted 8-of-16 third downs, rushed for 183 yards and quarterback Matt Cassel threw for 331.

In each of their previous three games, the Patriots have put up bigger and bigger numbers. Against the Seahawks, it was 344 yards; in Oakland, it was 487; and then there are the stats against the Cardinals.

“I think we’re doing a good job of trying to improve each week,” left tackle and offensive co-captain Matt Light said. “We’re giving [Cassel] time in the pocket to make good decisions, which he’s done all season.”

But McDaniels, like most coaches, still sees room for improvement. He pointed to the continued inconsistencies in the red zone as a primary concern. On Sunday, New England scored four touchdowns in seven trips inside the 20-yard line, and the team was 3-for-4 and 2-for-3 against the Raiders and Seahawks, respectively.

Of Stephen Gostkowski’s franchise-record 34 field goals, 23 are from 37 yards or less, meaning New England was inside the red zone when the drive stalled.

Yet the Patriots certainly seem to be putting things together at just the right time. Part of the success likely stems from the running game, which has seen the benefits of having three varied backs for defenses to keep track of in Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk and LaMont Jordan.

Jordan missed eight games with a right calf injury, and Morris also had to sit out three games in that time with a knee problem. While rookie BenJarvus Green-Ellis filled in admirably in their stead, there seems to be an improvement in the ground game.

Light said the offensive linemen like blocking for backs who run so hard.

“It always feels good to go out and run the ball effectively,” he said. “We have good, talented guys back there. Those guys run the ball effectively. To be a balanced offense makes a huge difference.”

The run game will help in Buffalo this week, and particularly if New England’s season continues beyond this week. Strong running teams typically enjoy postseason success, in large part because it helps control the clock.

But while the three 500-yard-plus and four 40-point plus games this year match the number of such games New England had last year, no one will compare the 2008 offense to the 2007 version.

“I never make comparisons from one season to the next,” Light said. “You have to live in the moment.”

McDaniels wasn’t about to compare the two.

“I don’t think it reminds you of last year; each game is different,” he said. “I think this team is progressing. We [coaches] keep the pressure on them to try to improve each week. We are getting better and making strides every week. Hopefully we can continue that this week.”

smanza@projo.com