Unless they rest their starters they likely aren't loosing those games, especially Mike Vrabel coached team. They don't take any team for granted, Vrabel won't allow it.
How are they? Buffalo slipped vs Atlanta and Miami. New England simply beats the teams they were supposed to including BUFFALO and TAMPA who are two contenders. And this is without a legitimate star receiver, and in all three phases they've been winning - elite special teams (marcus jones is an elite return man, defense and offense as well as the kicking game). What more can you ask? All the other good teams in the league seem to slip up here and there with the exception of Denver who doesn't have New England's offense.