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Breaking down the three-year contract extension recently signed by Patriots defensive end Rob Ninkovich, which is added to the end of his current deal ($1.4 million base salary for 2013):

Total terms: 3 years, maximum value of $13.65 million ($7 million in guarantees, with additional bonus money)
Signing bonus: $5 million ($2.5 million paid out up front, $900,000 paid on February 15, 2014 and $1.6 million paid on March 31, 2014)

2014
Base salary: $1 million (fully guaranteed)
Offseason workout bonus: $100,000
Roster bonus: Up to $200,000 (he will make $12,500 for each game that he is on the 46-man active roster list)
Playtime incentive: $250,000 if he plays 75 percent of the defensive snaps
Pro Bowl incentive: $200,000

2015
Base salary: $2.1 million ($1 million of this is guaranteed for injury only; it becomes fully guaranteed if he is on the roster on the fifth day of the 2015 league year)
Offseason workout bonus: $100,000
Roster bonus: Up to $200,000 (he will make $12,500 for each game that he is on the 46-man active roster list)
Playtime incentive: $250,000 if he plays 75 percent of the defensive snaps
Pro Bowl incentive: $200,000

2016
Base salary: $1.5 million (non-guaranteed)
Offseason workout bonus: $100,000
Roster bonus: Up to $300,000 (he will make $18,750 for each game that he is on the 46-man active roster list)
Playtime incentives: $425,000 if he plays 45 percent of the defensive snaps, $850,000 if he plays 55 percent, $1.25 million if he plays 65 percent, $1.65 million if he plays 75 percent.
Pro Bowl incentive: $200,000

Note: Ninkovich will earn $200,000 if he makes the Pro Bowl during the 2013 season. Also, since becoming a full-time starter, Ninkovich has been a three-down player who played 83 percent of the defensive snaps in 2012 and 82.3 percent of the defensive snaps in 2011.

A weekly examination of the Patriots’ ESPN.com Power Ranking:

Preseason: 6 | Last Week: 7 | ESPN.com Power Ranking since 2002

The 3-0 Patriots have bounced between the 5-7 range through the first three weeks of the season. Most notable this week is that Sunday night's opponent, the 1-2 Atlanta Falcons, took a dip from No. 5 last week to No. 14.

So let's get deeper into this matchup.

I watched the Falcons' 27-23 loss to the Dolphins on Sunday and I don't think there is any question that their offense -- led by quarterback Matt Ryan and with receivers Julio Jones, Roddy White and Harry Douglas and tight end Tony Gonzalez -- is better than any the Patriots have faced to this point. That's not exactly a newsflash when the first three opponents were the Buffalo Bills, New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Two stats stand out that highlight the challenge ahead for New England:

The Falcons have outscored opponents 31-0 in the first quarter: There isn't a better team in the NFL when it comes to fast starts. The Falcons' issue has been maintaining it and closing out games. We'll see if the Patriots can weather the potential early storm.

Home success for the Falcons: Some teams are just that much different at home, and the Falcons are one of them, having won 12 of their last 13 games at the Georgia Dome. It can be one of the toughest places to win in the NFL.

Overall, the Falcons' offense can control a game, and based on what I saw from their defense, which was unable to come up with the stop on the Dolphins' game-winning, fourth-quarter drive, that's probably what it's going to take for them to hand the Patriots their first loss.

Few would be surprised if that's the way it unfolds, so when it comes to isolating this specific matchup, the split between Nos. 5 and 14 isn't as wide to me as it might appear on the surface.

Tedy Bruschi's weekly ESPNBoston.com chat took place at 11 a.m. ET, can be recapped here, and included some of the following topics:

1. Wes Welker, the impressive Broncos, and how the Patriots might match up.

2. Trickle-down effect of potentially having tight end Rob Gronkowski back in the lineup.

3. Why the Patriots, at 3-0, can feel good about where they stand even if the wins haven't all been decisive.

4. Considering options in defending Falcons receiver Julio Jones.

5. Following up on Rob Ninkovich's contract extension.

Every Tuesday on ESPNBoston.com, questions from Patriots followers are answered as part of a weekly mailbag. This week's mailbag has been posted, and included some of the following topics:

1. Getting deeper into the Patriots-Falcons matchup.

2. Patriots running game will be crucial this week.

3. Looking to Denver and the Broncos' success, and considering how the Patriots match up.

4. Looking closer at the split with running back carries for the Patriots this season.

5. Rob Ninkovich's contract extension and if cornerback Aqib Talib could be next.

6. Comparing former Patriots punter Zoltan Mesko with current Patriots punter Ryan Allen.

A look at the 3-0 New England Patriots in our weekly "stat check," while also bringing Sunday's opponent -- the 1-2 Atlanta Falcons -- into the discussion:

Points scored
This week: 22nd (19.6)
Last week: Tied-25th (18.0)
Last season: 1st (34.8)
Falcons in 2013: Tied-12th (23.6)

Points against
This week: Tied-2nd (11.3)
Last week: Tied-6th (15.5)
Last season: Tied-9th (20.6)
Falcons in 2013: Tied-19th (24.6)

Third-down offense
This week: 13th (21 of 53, 39.6 percent)
Last week: 16th (15 of 38)
Last season: 1st (110 of 226, 48.7 percent)
Falcons in 2013: 10th (15 of 35, 42.9 percent)

Third-down defense
This week: Tied-8th (15 of 45, 33.3 percent)
Last week: 8th (10 of 31)
Last season: 22nd (82 of 205, 40.0 percent)
Falcons in 2013: 28th (20 of 42, 47.6 percent)

Turnover differential
This week: Tied-6th (plus-3, 7 takeaways, 4 giveaways)
Last week: Tied-4th (plus-3, 6 takeaways, 3 giveaways)
Last season: 1st (plus-25, 41 takeaways, 16 giveaways)
Falcons in 2013: Tied-14th (even, 4 takeaways, 4 giveaways)

Red zone offense (based on TD percentage)
This week: 32nd (4 of 13)
Last week: 31st (2 of 8)
Last season: 1st (49 of 70)
Falcons in 2013: Tied-17th (6 of 12)

Red zone defense (based on TD percentage)
This week: Tied-12th (3 of 6)
Last week: Tied-26th (3 of 4)
Last season: 13th (24 of 46)
Falcons in 2013: Tied-23rd (7 of 10)

Tedy Bruschi's weekly SportsNation Patriots chat, on ESPNBoston.com, is scheduled for 11 a.m. ET today. Questions can be submitted in advance.

Catch up with Tedy then.

Sunday's game between the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons, at the Georgia Dome, will be broadcast on NBC (8:30 p.m. ET).

The broadcasting trio of Al Michaels (play-by-play), Cris Collinsworth (analysis) and Michele Tafoya (sideline) will call the game.

This is the first of three Patriots regular-season games currently scheduled to be broadcast on NBC, joining the Nov. 24 home game against the Denver Broncos and the Dec. 22 road game at the Baltimore Ravens.

Patriots 2013 television lineup
at Bills: Greg Gumbel/Dan Dierdorf/Tracy Wolfson (CBS)
vs. Jets: Brad Nessler/Mike Mayock/Alex Flanagan (NFL Network)
vs. Buccaneers: Kevin Burkhardt/John Lynch/Erin Andrews (Fox)
at Falcons: Al Michaels/Cris Collinsworth/Michele Tafoya (NBC)

Preseason predictions don’t always materialize into regular-season reality, but prior to the start of the 2013 NFL season, many surmised the Atlanta Falcons would be a strong contender to represent the NFC in Super Bowl XLVIII.

After posting the top record in the conference last season, the Falcons got over one hump by posting their first postseason victory during the Thomas Dimitroff-Mike Smith-Matt Ryan regime, upending the upstart Seattle Seahawks in Atlanta.

Expectations were sky-high entering this season after the Falcons lured longtime Rams running back Steven Jackson to their backfield, providing toughness and dependability to an offense that was already among the most explosive through the air. Jackson left Atlanta's Week 2 game with a thigh injury that has his status for this Sunday up in the air, a difficult loss for the Falcons and one that has thrust Jacquizz Rodgers and Jason Snelling into larger roles. Though Snelling and Rodgers filled in admirably this past Sunday, the Falcons were defeated by the Dolphins in Miami, dropping them to 1-2 out of the gate. A visit from the New England Patriots is next, on Sunday night.

At the top of the organization is a familiar face, as Falcons general manager Dimitroff was formerly the director of college scouting for the Patriots after working in a number of personnel roles prior to that. Dimitroff has been a grand-slam hire in Atlanta, starting with his decision to select Ryan with the third pick in the 2008 draft. Many wins and one huge new contract later, few are questioning whether he made the right choice.

Below is a further primer on the high-octane Falcons.

Record: 1-2
Head coach: Mike Smith (sixth season)
Offensive coordinator: Dirk Koetter
Defensive coordinator: Mike Nolan

THREE PLAYERS TO KNOW, OFFENSE
1. QB Matt Ryan. A legitimate franchise quarterback, the Falcons’ commitment to Ryan was reinforced this offseason when they extended his contract and paid him a boatload to remain as the centerpiece of their organization. He has a powerful arm, terrific accuracy, an abundance of intelligence and is a natural leader. The former Boston College Eagle has all the requisite tools to lead this team for many years to come and will put stress on any defense he faces.

2. WR Julio Jones/WR Roddy White. This two-headed monster is off to a bit of a slow start because White has been dealing with a high-ankle sprain, but any defense that lets up on this duo at all will pay in a big way. White is a ferocious route-runner with competitive catch skills and the zip to work down the field vertically as well, while Jones has track speed and big-play ability that has tormented defenses already this season. Tackling Jones is a difficult chore, and the Patriots must be ready to put an umbrella on him, as he’ll get behind a safety before a defensive coordinator can even blink.

3. TE Tony Gonzalez. An ageless wonder, Gonzalez has been the gold standard among pass-catching tight ends for a significant stretch of his career. While not the same athlete he was early on in his playing days, Gonzalez is an exceptional middle-of-the-field threat who has rare hands -- throw it his way, he’ll catch it. The Patriots must be on alert for this sure-fire Hall of Famer when Atlanta gets into the red zone; Gonzalez is lethal there.

THREE PLAYERS TO KNOW, DEFENSE
1. S William Moore/S Thomas DeCoud. It isn’t always a good thing when your safeties are among your leading tacklers, but that’s not a knock on DeCoud and Moore, a pair of physical starters that Atlanta counts on to form its defensive rearguard. Both can affect the game as run and pass defenders, with each also playing a physical brand of football that many receivers don’t like to come across. The Falcons are really beaten up in their front seven, but Moore and DeCoud quarterback the secondary.

2. CB Desmond Trufant/CB Robert Alford. Brent Grimes left Atlanta to sign with Miami this offseason, and cornerback vaulted toward the top of the Falcons’ needs (it might well have been a top need even if Grimes had stayed). So Dimitroff took a pair of cornerbacks with his first two picks in this year’s draft. The early results have included some positive plays, as Alford snagged an interception in his season debut, while Trufant has been a starter in each game as well. Former Patriot Asante Samuel rounds out the team’s top trio of cornerbacks.

3. DT Corey Peters. It’s hard to miss the big-bodied Peters in the middle of the Falcons' defensive front, as the fourth-year pro is a disruptive interior presence who helps to build the first wall of run defense. Given the numerous injuries Atlanta has dealt with already this season, they’ll need the 6-foot-3, 305-pounder to hold his ground in the middle. Thus far he’s been up to the task, with 12 tackles through three games.

OTHER NOTES: The Falcons have been decimated by injuries, as top linebacker Sean Weatherspoon is on injured reserve with the designation to return, while stud defensive end Kroy Biermann, offensive tackle Mike Johnson and fullback Bradie Ewing are among those who are out for the season. ... Starting left tackle Sam Baker joined Jackson among the key offensive contributors to miss Week 3. ... The Falcons are a tough out in their own building, winning 12 of their past 13 regular-season home contests.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Speaking during his customary day-after-the-game press conference Monday afternoon, New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick reinforced his team’s mantra of approaching its schedule on a week-by-week basis.

“Every week is a challenge in the National Football League,” he said. “Every team has good players, every team has good coaches. Every week is a challenge. Atlanta is a big challenge, but so was Tampa. We’ll turn the page on them and move on to Atlanta.”

No looking ahead, not past the next opponent, at least.

The formula is tried and true, as the Patriots are off to a 3-0 start, including two victories within the division.

While New England isn't in any rush to pull out the long-range lens, those of us on the outside have a harder time resisting the temptation.

In the next three weeks, the Patriots will face road tests in Atlanta and Cincinnati, then host the currently undefeated New Orleans Saints in a Week 6 showdown.

It’s a formidable task, and one that will help us learn more about a Patriots team that thus far has shown it has a competitive defense to go along with an offense that continues to work through some glitches -- but has an undeniably high upside with Tom Brady under center and the looming returns of tight end Rob Gronkowski and receiver Danny Amendola.

Breaking down the trio of opponents one by one, it’s easy to understand why each is regarded as a potential playoff team.

Atlanta Falcons

It starts with offense in Atlanta, where quarterback Matt Ryan leads one of the most explosive groups in the league. He’s flanked by superstar receivers Julio Jones and Roddy White, who test a defense both down the field and in the intermediate passing game. While White has been limited thus far in 2013 due to a high-ankle sprain, Jones has proven to be a terror, leading the league with 373 receiving yards, including an 81-yard score against St. Louis in Week 2.

As if that duo wasn’t imposing enough, the Falcons roll out depth at receiver with talented slot man Harry Douglas, a speedy Louisville product who has seen his role increase with White hampered. Tight end Tony Gonzalez is the ultimate security blanket, regularly among the most-targeted red-zone receivers.

Coveted free agent running back Steven Jackson left St. Louis to provide the missing link for the Falcons, though he might not play this Sunday due to a thigh injury. His absence didn’t stop the Falcons from totaling 146 yards on the ground in the Week 3 loss to Miami, led by impressive efforts from Jacquizz Rodgers and Jason Snelling.

The Patriots defense is in for its toughest test yet come Sunday night.

Cincinnati Bengals

Cincinnati’s offense is no slouch, especially with receiver A.J. Green manning the perimeter and rookie running back Giovani Bernard providing a dynamic threat from the backfield.

But the area that the Patriots will likely focus on in preparing for the Bengals is finding a way to slow their vaunted front four, led by defensive tackle Geno Atkins and defensive end Carlos Dunlap, each a recent recipient of a mammoth contract extension.

As if that duo isn’t enough, the Bengals used their franchise tag this past offseason on defensive end Michael Johnson, whose freakish length and quickness make him a pass-rushing force. The Bengals are incredibly well coached by coordinator Mike Zimmer, who isn’t afraid to unleash the pressure through creative blitz designs.

With as much talent along the line as the Bengals have, they can live in an opposing backfield when bringing just four rushers.

New Orleans Saints

For many years, it’s been all about the offense in New Orleans. This season hasn’t been an exception in the sense that Drew Brees still leads one of the most productive passing attacks in football (he’s thrown for more than 300 yards in each game this season), but the defense has shaped up as well under new coordinator Rob Ryan.

Despite dealing with a rash of injuries to their front seven, the Saints are fifth in both yards and points allowed per game. They tamed the aforementioned Falcons, limiting Atlanta to just 17 points and 367 yards of total offense in Week 1.

The secondary has been aided by the instant impact of first-round safety Kenny Vaccaro, who notched his first career interception in Week 3. Defensive end Cameron Jordan has flourished in his new 3-4 role (Ryan installed his 3-4 system with the Saints after a year under Steve Spagnuolo featured four-man fronts) and all of sudden, balance is the trend in New Orleans.

There’s plenty of football to be played before this game takes place, but the Saints could prove to be the most difficult opponent the Patriots face before their bye week.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Picked-up pieces from reviewing the second half of the Patriots’ 23-3 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers:

1. The half opened with kicker Stephen Gostkowski booming a touchback. He later added two more. So he now has 14 touchbacks on 15 kickoffs this season, putting him close to the league leaders (he entered Week 2 tied for third). That reflects how Gostkowski’s powerful leg is a weapon for the Patriots, although it’s always easier for that to be the case earlier in the season.

2. On Buccaneers receiver Vincent Jackson leaving the game with a rib injury, it looks like it might have happened on his final reception (12 yards, 14:27 remaining in the third quarter) when linebacker Brandon Spikes tackled him to the ground from behind and Jackson might have landed on the football. Jackson played one snap after that.

3. Julian Edelman’s left-sideline-to-right-sideline 16-yard punt return with 8:06 remaining in the third quarter highlighted how a good returner often has to make at least one opponent miss to get a return started. Edelman did that. We actually counted four defenders that Edelman made miss on the return which set the Patriots up at their own 36-yard line and ultimately set up a 46-yard field goal. If not for Edelman’s return, the Patriots probably don’t get three points there because it wasn’t overly efficient offense on the drive.

4. The tight end hasn’t been a big part of the Patriots’ attack through the first three weeks of the season, but Michael Hoomanawanui’s second and third catches of 2013 came on the same third-quarter drive, which culminated in a 46-yard field goal. On the 15-yarder, Hoomanawanui found a soft spot in the Buccaneers’ zone coverage over the middle. On the 16-yard catch-and-run, he made the first tackler (safety Mark Barron) miss on what was an underrated “effort” play on third-and-19. The 16-yard catch-and-run is an example of what the Patriots probably like most about Hoomanawanui -- he is obviously limited when compared to someone like Rob Gronkowski, but he maxes out with what he has and is consistent and dependable.

5. Some have asked about defensive tackle Vince Wilfork’s play in recent weeks, as his position usually requires a closer look to get a better feel for what is happening in the trenches. Last week, he was surprisingly single blocked at times by Jets guard Vladimir Ducasse. Against the Buccaneers, he seemed to be more disruptive. For example, it was Wilfork who drew the holding penalty on center Jeremy Zuttah at the start of the fourth quarter, which turned out to be a drive stopper after Tampa Bay had generated some positive momentum on the march. We’ve seen Wilfork dominate games inside, and while that wasn’t the case on Sunday, he was disruptive at times inside.

6. Leading 23-3 with 7:38 remaining, and getting the ball on their own 29-yard line, the Patriots turned to their “four-minute offense” which, if effective, bleeds the clock to zero. The Patriots didn’t get it to zero, but it was still solid work as they fed LeGarrette Blount for eight runs on the 10-play drive before turning the ball over to the Buccaneers on downs with 2:57 to play. Nothing too fancy, just a case of the Patriots taking advantage of a worn-down defense (credit to the offensive line) and playing solid situational football to bleed clock and shift field position. Of Blount’s 21 snaps (including penalties), 12 came on the final two drives of the game.

Picked-up pieces from reviewing the first half of the New England Patriots' 23-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

1. The Patriots opened the game with three straight snaps out of their 4 receiver/1 running back grouping. That set up a matchup against the Buccaneers' dime defense (6 defensive backs), which appeared to be what the Patriots, often operating out of the spread empty set, felt was their best chance at success. The Patriots had only run one play out the 4 receiver/1 running back grouping against the Jets, and five in the season opener against the Bills, so this was a good example of how the Patriots consider themselves a “game-plan” offense that tailors its attack on a weekly basis to take advantage of the matchups specific to each opponent. Ultimately, the plan was aborted and the Patriots found more success with a different matchup (3 receivers/1 tight end vs. nickel). A solid in-game adjustment.

2. It was interesting to hear Brady say this morning on WEEI that the Patriots didn't think this would be a big running game for them. In retrospect, this might have been a case where the coaching staff underestimated the team's ability to get things going on the ground. The first three runs, all coming on the team's second drive, were solid: Stevan Ridley for 6 (out of the shotgun and seemingly designed to counter the Buccaneers' pursuit), LeGarrette Blount for 4 and Brandon Bolden out of the shotgun for 3. There were solid running lanes and forward progress created on each play against a defense with a knack for creating the negative play. But it really wasn't until the fourth drive, when the Patriots settled into a 3 receiver/1 tight end grouping and the Buccaneers matched with their nickel defense (5 defensive backs), that the Patriots really stuck with the running game.

3. The importance of running backs in pass protection was highlighted on the third-and-2 play that ended the Patriots' first drive, as quarterback Tom Brady was sacked by linebacker Lavonte David and safety Mark Barron. Bolden was aligned to the right of Brady, who was in the shotgun, and couldn't hold his block on Barron. It was also excellent execution by the Buccaneers, who had six defenders at the line of scrimmage, showing blitz, but backed two defenders out at the snap. So they actually rushed just four, but their pre-snap look and then their quickness after the snap made it difficult for the offensive line and Bolden to know who was coming.

4. On the positive side of running-back blitz pickup, Ridley, aligned to the right of Brady in the shotgun on receiver Kenbrell Thompkins' 16-yard catch-and-run touchdown in the second quarter, did a solid job to come under Brady and pick up blitzing David off the left side by going low on him. Ridley's playing time was limited in the game (26 snaps, including penalties), but I thought he was effective in the time he was on the field -- as a runner, pass-catcher, and in pass protection.

5. This isn't specific as much to the first half as the overall game, but the feeling here is that it deserves mention. One way to measure if an on-field rapport between a quarterback and receiver is improving is results in “got-to-have-it” situations. Along those lines, it stood out that of receiver Aaron Dobson's seven catches, four went for first downs (two on third down, one on fourth down) and Dobson also produced another first down by drawing a 28-yard pass interference penalty. On one of the third-down catches (11:48 remaining, second quarter), the Buccaneers were in zone coverage and cornerback Darrelle Revis passed Dobson off. That's the type of play that makes one wonder if the Buccaneers are maximizing Revis' elite skill set.

6. On defense for the Patriots, it looked like a lot of man coverage. As noted Sunday, cornerback Aqib Talib matched up specifically against Vincent Jackson and the Buccaneers did a nice job moving Jackson all over the formation -- out wide, in the slot, in motion. That one-on-one battle in the first half was fun to watch, with each player getting a few victories.

7. Linebacker Dont'a Hightower's growth in the system has been showing up early this season, as he's playing more in sub packages (over Brandon Spikes) and his overall responsibilities have expanded. This was a game where he was seen in deep coverage on running back Doug Martin (incomplete pass down the left sideline), playing downhill against the run, playing off the line of scrimmage in the 4-3, on the line of scrimmage as an outside linebacker in the 3-4, and split out wide where his powerful jam re-routed tight end Nate Byham (10:58 remaining in first quarter). He is becoming a bit of a Swiss-army knife for the Patriots.

8. On a similar note, the Patriots' defensive game-plan of keeping a strong seven-man box, even against the Buccaneers' three-receiver package, played to the strengths of middle linebacker Brandon Spikes. It's no newsflash, but when Spikes is playing downhill in the running game, he's a force (e.g. Martin 1-yard run with 3:19 remaining in first quarter).

9. On the Patriots' first sack, which came with 7:48 remaining in the first quarter and was split between Rob Ninkovich and Chandler Jones, it was a rare first-down blitz with linebacker Jerod Mayo coming as a fifth rusher off the left side. Meanwhile, on the right side, Jones looped around Vince Wilfork (who drew two blockers) to get his share of the sack, while Ninkovich's leverage on right guard Davin Joseph helped him turn the corner as right tackle Demar Dotson kicked out to account for the blitzing Mayo. It happened quickly, with the rush getting there before Freeman had any available options. For those who would like to see the Patriots blitz more, this is the play to circle as one that produced the desired result.

10. On the 12-men-on-the-field penalty against the Patriots in the first quarter, that looked like a coaching miscue. The Buccaneers didn't substitute offensively, but when the Patriots attempted to get linebacker Brandon Spikes on the field and take safety Steve Gregory off, the quick tempo of the Buccaneers led to the penalty because Gregory wasn't able to get to the sideline in time. Unless we missed a Buccaneers substitution, that one looked more like a coaching breakdown than on the players involved.

11. From the random department: The Patriots have lost all three opening tosses this season and each opponent has deferred the choice to the second half. That means the Patriots have received the opening kickoff in all three games and the results have been punt, touchdown, punt.

The New England Patriots locked up a critical cog in their defensive front seven on Sunday, as the team agreed to terms on a three-year contract extension with defensive end Rob Ninkovich that includes $8.5 million in bonuses and guaranteed money, as first reported by colleague Mike Reiss.

Ninkovich, who was out of work in early August 2009 when the Patriots signed him as a low-profile free agent, spoke to the “Mut & Merloni” program on WEEI sports radio in Boston on Monday morning and expressed his gratitude for the new deal.

"I'm happy to be here, I'm happy to stick around,” he said. “The Kraft family and my family worked it out to where it works well for both sides and I'm happy to be here for the next three, four -- four years now."

In extending Ninkovich’s deal, the Patriots re-upped their top pass-rusher from last season and now have both he and Chandler Jones under contract through 2016.

The veteran Ninkovich said that the discussions on the new deal dated back to training camp.

"In training camp we were talking, I knew that I wanted to be here, this is the place I was given an opportunity and I really respected that because if it wasn't for the opportunity that was given here, I don't know where I would be right now,” he said.

Originally a 2006 fifth-round draft pick of the Saints, Ninkovich bounced around during his first three NFL seasons, spending time with the Dolphins before a second tenure in New Orleans. But it was in New England where he thrived and found his greatest success.

Now, he has a chance to continue to help the franchise move forward in its winning ways.

“Given that, I really wanted to stick around and win games and be on a winning team,” Ninkovich said. “That goes a long way as well. You can go search for money and all that stuff, but if you’re losing every week, you’d be pretty miserable. I want to be here, I want to win and I want to help the team and just continue to be a good football player and be reliable.”

A review of four hot issues from the New England Patriots' 23-3 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers:

Young receivers rebound: After struggling in a Week 2 win over the Jets, rookie receivers Aaron Dobson and Kenbrell Thompkins bounced back with their best performances of the young season. Dobson tied for the team high with seven catches (four produced first downs and he also drew a 28-yard pass interference penalty), and Thompkins had two touchdown grabs. There still will be growing pains ahead, few have doubts about that, but it was a step in the right direction for the Patriots.

Injuries to key players: Receiver Danny Amendola (groin) and tight end Rob Gronkowski (forearm/back) didn't play, while starting right tackle Sebastian Vollmer injured his foot and didn't play in the second half. Their status figures to be watched closely this week, with Gronkowski potentially set to make his debut if things keep progressing (he had been listed as doubtful the first two weeks of the season, but was upgraded to questionable last week). If Vollmer isn't ready to play, it pushes third-year tackle Marcus Cannon into the starting lineup and also shines a spotlight on the health of veteran Will Svitek, who has missed the first three games of the season with a knee injury and would add another layer of depth.

Defense delivers again: Since their record-breaking season in 2007, the Patriots' identity has mostly been tied to their offense. But as the offense has struggled to find its groove early this season, the defense has picked up more of the slack. In three games this season, opponents have scored 34 points against the Patriots, which is impressive (and also the fewest allowed by the Patriots through three games since 1979). But then when considering that seven of those points came on a fumble return for a touchdown, while another seven came after an interception deep in their own territory, it reflects well on the defense. One theme that was heard after Sunday's win was how having so many returning players has helped the unit start at a higher point in 2013.

Tough part of the schedule ahead: While the Patriots are naturally pleased with their 3-0 start, with wins over the Buffalo Bills, New York Jets and Buccaneers, there also seems to be a realization that things are about to get much tougher. The next three games on the schedule are at the Falcons, at the Bengals, then home versus the Saints. The Patriots have built themselves some margin for error with a strong start, but it seems fair to say we'll find out some more about this team when it faces some tougher competition.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The Patriots were without special-teams captain Matthew Slater in Sunday's 23-3 victory over the Buccaneers. A big part of Slater's value is that he plays on each of the "Big 4" units -- kickoff return, kickoff coverage, punt return, punt coverage -- so when a player like that is injured it often means multiple players are tapped to fill the void.

Here is a look at how the Patriots compensated:

Duron Harmon on punt coverage. The third-round pick from Rutgers was the choice to serve as one of the team's gunners opposite Marquice Cole. Slater's work as a gunner, where he often faces double teams, is considered exemplary.

Brandon Bolden on kickoff return. Slater is usually back deep on the kickoff return, mostly as the fullback on the unit. Second-year running back Bolden, who played for the first time this season after missing the first two games while recovering from a knee injury, took over that role.

Michael Buchanan on kickoff coverage. In an unusual switch, defensive end Buchanan was the new player on the kickoff coverage unit in place of Slater. At 6-foot-6 and 255 pounds, Buchanan has a different body type than the 6-foot, 210-pound Slater and fills a different role. Buchanan had played on the kickoff coverage unit in the season opener along with Slater, but was bumped off in Week 2 when Harmon dressed for the first time this season.

Jake Bequette on punt return. While not a 1-for-1 switch, and while acknowledging that the Patriots can have different units based on whether they are setting up a return or electing to rush more players, second-year player Bequette was a notable addition to the punt return team. Similar to Buchanan, he has a different body type than Slater and fills a different role. This was the first we've seen of Bequette in this role in 2013.

ANALYSIS: This is a good example of how Slater's absence led to four-pronged juggling by the coaching staff. Bill Belichick has spoken in the past about how his experience as a special-teams coach prepared him well for his role as a head coach in terms of managing the overall 53-man roster, and this is a perfect example to illustrate that point. It also highlights how Slater's skills are unique and no one player can fill the void. ... Players who were on all four units Sunday were LB Jamie Collins, LB Dane Fletcher, LB Chris White and S Tavon Wilson, which reflects their special-teams value and why, among other reasons, they are locks for the 46-man game-day roster on a weekly basis. ... Players on three units were CB Marquice Cole, S Nate Ebner and S Duron Harmon. ... The wedge players on the kickoff return were FB James Develin, TE Michael Hoomanawanui and TE Matthew Mulligan.

On Sunday, NFL Network reported quarterback Tom Brady had reached out to both Brandon Lloyd and Deion Branch, former Patriot receivers who are currently out of work and free agents.

Speaking on the "Dennis & Callahan Show" on WEEI sports radio in Boston on Monday morning, Brady dismissed the notion that he's reached out to Lloyd and Branch.

"Yeah, I don't know where those, some of those reports come from," Brady said. "Obviously I have relationships with every guy that I've ever played with, certainly guys at the receiver position are some of my best friends and people that I spent the most time and I'm the closest with. But I don't make any personnel decisions, I don't -- I can't talk to coach Belichick about bringing players back. I've never been able to control personnel decisions, so that's -- I'm a player like everybody else.

"We have a scouting department and people that make those decisions and I'm one of the last people that are ever asked or told about what we're doing with players," he continued. "I kind of just mind my own business and try to play quarterback as best I can."

Brady's remarks echoed what he said after Sunday's victory.

"No, I haven’t talked to those guys in a while," he said. "I love both of them. They’re good friends and great teammates, but I haven’t talked to either of them in a while."

In his radio interview, Brady was also asked if he believes that head coach Bill Belichick has decided to ride things out with the current receiver group or to seek reinforcements from outside of the organization.

"Well I think -- the expectation is for us is to get better and improve and the guys that we have are the guys that we practiced with and played with the first three weeks," he replied.

"I mean look, we've -- no one thought Gronk would be out at this point, no one thought what happened with [Aaron] Hernandez would've happened, no one thought Danny [Amendola] would be down, no one thought Shane [Vereen] would be out. I mean, we've got -- there's kind of an unusual set of circumstances but that's where we're at and we're 3-0."