So Tom Brady doesn’t want to talk about going undefeated.

Too bad. He’s going to get a lot of questions on the topic in upcoming weeks.

The New England Patriots are 7-0 and looking invincible. They’re scoring the most points per game (35.6) in the NFL. Their passing game is ranked second (329.3 yards per game). Their defense is improving, up to eighth in fewest points allowed (19.0).

They have scored over 40 points twice. Two times they have held their opponent to seven points or fewer.

Brady, in his weekly appearance on WEEI in Boston, said Monday that going undefeated “is the furthest thing from anybody’s mind. I (couldn’t) really care less about those type of things.”

Yeah, but other people do, including this guy.

Can the Patriots go 16-0? Sure. So can the Denver Broncos, Cincinnati Bengals and Carolina Panthers, all undefeated as well.

But at this point, New England is clearly the best team in the NFL. Not perfect – there are some holes to fill – not No. 1 in every statistical category, but certainly the most balanced.

So I ask, if the Patriots do not suffer any major injuries, who’s going to beat them?

Let’s take a look.

Will it be …

Washington?

Nope. The team with pro sports’ most controversial nickname will not beat the Patriots on Sunday at Gillette Stadium.

Yeah, Bill Belichick, Brady and others have done their best to pump up the likes of Kirk Cousins, DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon, Alfred Morris, Ryan Kerrigan, DeAngelo Hall and others. That’s the Patriot Way. They don’t overlook anyone and they won’t take Washington lightly.

And that’s why they’ll exploit all of Washington’s weaknesses and win this one easily.

New York Giants?

Nope. You probably know by now that I am a lifelong Giants fan. I know there are some Patriots fans out there – you know who you are – who irrationally fear the Giants because of their two Super Bowl victories over New England.

This Giants team is nothing like those. They have no chance to beat the Patriots on Nov. 15 at MetLife Stadium.

If the Giants cannot pressure Brady, the Patriots might put up 70 points. And yeah, the Giants can throw with the best of them, but if the Patriots harass Eli Manning like they’ve done the last couple of games, it could be a long night for New York’s offense.

There could be a lot of points scored in this game, most of them by the Patriots.

Buffalo?

Nope. This Monday night game at Gillette Stadium on Nov. 23 will officially bury the Bills’ hopes for another year.

The Patriots have already beaten the Bills once this year (40-32 in a game that was never really close). They’ll do it again. Only this time they won’t take their foot off the pedal.

This could be another record-setting night for the Patriots’ offense.

Denver?

Maybe. But I don’t think so.

The game is at Denver on Nov. 29, an NFL treat to wake you from your post-Thanksgiving doldrums. But the hype no longer will focus just on Brady vs. Manning.

This will be all about the Patriots’ offense vs. the Broncos’ defense. Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware, Aqib Talib (still one of my favorite players to come through Gillette), T.J. Ward, Malik Jackson and Co. have been throttling teams this season. Ask Aaron Rodgers how good they are. But the Patriots have so many offensive threats, more than any other team the Broncos will have faced by this point.

Peyton Manning is still a great pitchman for advertisers, but his pitch-and-catch game gets cold reviews. Surprisingly the Broncos struggle to rush the ball. I think the Patriots’ defense makes a statement in Denver.

Philadelphia?

Another “Maybe.” Another “I don’t think so.”

I still think the Eagles are the most dangerous team in the NFC East if they can ever stop tripping over themselves. They can score fast and often.

Defensively they can swarm the ball and turn a game quickly.

This might be one of the more entertaining games of the year, but I think the Patriots pull away late in their first home game of December. Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola, Brandon LaFell, LeGarrette Blount and Dion Lewis. They’re a little better than Sam Bradford, Zach Ertz, DeMarco Murray, Ryan Mathews, Darren Sproles and Jordan Matthews.

Houston?

Nope.

At one time I thought the Texans could challenge the Patriots. And I still think they could be a factor late in the year.

But Houston just doesn’t have the offense to match New England, which could be on the verge of clinching another AFC East title by this game. Of course, the last time the Patriots played this late in the season in Houston (2009), they suffered a catastrophic injury (Wes Welker’s knee) that led to them being knocked out of the playoffs a week later. The goal this time is to come away healthy.

Tennessee?

Nope, nope, nope.

I don’t think I need to say much more. This is the Patriots’ last home game (Dec. 20) before the NHL Winter Classic takes over Gillette Stadium. They’ll give their fans an early Christmas present.

New York Jets?

Nope.

The Patriots are on the road for their last two games. And this one, on Dec. 27, is important. The Jets gave the Patriots everything they could handle earlier this year at Gillette. And New York could be fighting for a playoff berth.

Expect another close game with the Patriots pulling it out in the fourth quarter, setting up a week-long speculation of whether New England will go for the perfect regular season or sit its starters in the season finale.

Miami?

No. Members of the 1972 Miami Dolphins, the only team to finish a season undefeated, will line the field, each holding a bottle of champagne in hopes of intimidating the Patriots.

Good luck with that.

Belichick plays his regulars the whole game, as he did in the final game of the 2007 season against the Giants. No one appreciates NFL history like Belichick. He knows what this one will mean.

So there you have it.

Who will beat the Patriots this season?

Only themselves.

 

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