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According to Boston Globe staffer Nick Cafardo, if Tom Brady got caught up in the numbers, he'd probably put a bag over his head and never want to be seen in public.

In his last four games, Brady has had quarterback ratings of 47.2, 57.6, 68.5, and 22.5. He's thrown 10 interceptions and two touchdowns.

The Patriots have won one of the four games -- a 27-24 overtime decision over Miami in the finale last season.

Brady threw six touchdown passes and no interceptions in the exhibition season while also putting to rest concerns about his throwing shoulder, which he had separated against Miami.

Last Sunday, however, he was hurried by the Bills' front seven and the results weren't statistically pleasing (14 for 28, 123 yards, 4 interceptions, and 2 sacks).

Just a bad stretch?

"You just try to evaluate what happened and try to get better," said Brady, whose focus is on Sunday's game with Philadelphia.

"You realize the mistakes that are made and you try not to make the same mistakes twice. It's the position you play: some games are good and some games are bad. To get better I need to complete more passes and not throw it to them. We're still going in the right direction. Not that it showed itself on Sunday. What we've done to prepare for last Sunday and what we've done to prepare for this Sunday is try to prepare to play a tough team on the road."

The other thing Brady has tried to do is "don't beat yourself up on Wednesday afternoon about something that happened on Sunday. That doesn't do anything to improve the situation. We've spent the last two days evaluating that and now it's time to put those things we've learned to good use next Sunday. It's not like we can wipe it away with a magic wand, at the same time you don't want to be beat yourself up. It'll lead to another loss if you do that."

One theory that has been suggested is that the Patriots' offense may have become too predictable.

Head coach Bill Belichick said the league has adjusted to the team's wide receiver screens, which it used successfully the past two years. Not only have screens been ineffective, but it appears the opposition has gotten wise to the quick slants to Troy Brown.

"Players play, coaches coach," said center Damien Woody. "It's not my job to figure out if our offense is predictable. That's their job. If they can't figure it out, tough luck. Our job is just to go out there and execute the game plan. Running the play is hard enough. I can't sit here and worry about if they're calling too many screens. I can't do that. That's not my job."

Belichick didn't feel there would be many changes in the Patriots' offense, feeling the scheme is designed to go after the opposing defense's "stress points." He also feels there's enough "diversity in our offense" where good execution can get the job done.

Also of interest. ...

In an article published Wednesday, the Sports XChange advised readers the Patriots will try to get their running game untracked this weekend.

The Patriots have not built a mammoth offensive line, but rather a more athletic group and they may match up better against an Eagles defense that doesn't have the mammoth Sam Adams-Pat Williams combination inside.

The piece further suggested this will be a big game for Antowain Smith's season prospects as the Patriots need to play a more power brand of football against an Eagles defense that may be more athletic at linebacker and defensive back than the Patriots are at the skill positions.

And finally. ... Veteran fullback Larry Centers needs only three more receptions to pass Henry Ellard, who also spent a brief stint in New England, and move into eighth place on the NFL all-time receptions list.

Centers has 814 career catches. He needs just eight receptions to pass Steve Largent for seventh place.