The New England Patriots are 10-3, with just three games remaining in the 2014 NFL season.

Having already defeated the Denver Broncos in Week 9, the Patriots hold the top seed in the AFC.

The passing attack is just fine, Robert Gronkowski continues to bulldoze opposing defenses and the defensive unit appears to be finding its way with Brandon Browner and Darrelle Revis on the outside. The Patriots control their own destiny going forward. If they can win their final three games, they will have home field advantage in the postseason.

But some NFL fans aren't sold on the Patriots rushing attack.

The Patriots rank 19th overall when it comes to running the football this season. Even though Tom Brady and the Patriots' passing game rank seventh in the league, they know it's critical to have a balanced attack offensively.

Starting running back Stevan Ridley is out for the season with a torn ACL and MCL, and others have been asked to do more. Shane Vereen leads the Patriots in rushing this season with 347 yards, but only has one touchdown. Vereen is a versatile back who is used a lot in the screen game, but he isn't the most effective between the tackles. Vereen has 409 receiving yards this season.

Signing LeGarrette Blount was a great decision by the Patriots' front office, after the Pittsburgh Steelers chose to release him. Blount is a hard-hitting back who does the majority of his damage between the tackles, and can score in the red zone. But can Blount be a featured every down back? Blount doesn't have breakout speed and he is inconsistent.

Last postseason was a perfect indicator of Blount's career. In the Patriots' first playoff game, Blount ran wild for 166 yards and four touchdowns. He looked like Franco Harris running with the ball against the Colts. But in the AFC Championship game, Blount was very disappointing against the Denver Broncos, running for just six yards on five carries. That's not going to beat Peyton Manning come playoff time.

As a team, the Patriots have failed to eclipse the 100-yard rushing mark in four of their last five games. The Patriots have only rushed for more than 100 yards in a game this season four times.

In Week 11, Jonas Gray had the game of his life. The 24-year-old running back ran for 201 yards and four touchdowns against the Indianapolis Colts. Later, head coach Bill Belichick benched him for being late to team practice, and Gray has had just three total carries since that unbelievable performance on Sunday Night Football.

Is Gray a "one hit wonder" or do the Patriots have a great weapon in their young running back? In Week 8 against the Chicago Bears, Gray had a good day, rushing for 86 yards on just 17 carries. Believe it or not, Gray has two more rushing touchdowns than any other Patriots running back this season, despite the limited amount of carries. Is it possible Belichick is saving him for the playoffs? The former Notre Dame running back has had some knee injuries in the past, but he has great potential.

And then, of course, there's Brandon Bolden. Bolden has been with the Patriots since 2012, so he is very familiar with the system. Bolden won't break the big plays, give the Patriots a lot of touchdowns or many first downs, but he is a stable back. Bolden is a great pass blocker when on the field for Brady, especially on the left side where Nate Solder has struggled this season. Bolden won't run the Patriots to a Super Bowl, but he is a good complimentary piece to have.

Right now, the Patriots don't pose much of a threat to opposing teams when it comes to running the football. The trade deadline has come and gone, and there aren't many quality free agent running backs on the open market. The Patriots offensive line needs to improve for their backs to have a great chance going forward.

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