Sport: New England: Patsies No More

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They are removing the scaffolding at last from the locker room inside hulking, gray Schaefer Stadium in Foxboro, Mass. After dazzling consecutive wins over three of the National Football League's finest teams—Miami, Pittsburgh and Oakland—the once and always rebuilding New England Patriots are no longer under construction. With a conference-leading offense built around the passing and surprise running of Star Quarterback Steve Grogan (see box) and an adequate, if not preternatural defense, the newly proud Pats have shucked their longtime label—Patsies.

New England's rise has been as stunning as it was swift. The Patriots had not enjoyed a winning season since 1966. After a dismal three wins and eleven losses last year, Quarterback Jim Plunkett—the 1970 Stanford Heisman Trophy winner who was supposed to parade the Patriots to glory—asked to be traded to a California team. Patriot fans, sensing that the RENOVATIONS UNDER WAY sign might hang for years longer, responded by planning to stay away from Patriot games. Result: season-ticket sales dropped by 10,000, and first-game attendance was the lowest in the team's five years at Schaefer Stadium. When the club lost its opener to Baltimore—with Grogan chucking four interceptions—the empty seats yawned.

Actually, the Patriots were about to march. The offensive line, heavy with superb blockers, had become a cohesive unit. Grogan's love of running with the ball made their jobs easier. With a mobile quarterback, linemen need not pour all their energy into defense of a very small place, the passer's pocket. Says Left Tackle Leon Gray: "With Grogan, a half a block may be enough."

The testimony of opponents is that Patriot blockers do far more. Neither Oakland's defenders nor Pittsburgh's Fearsome Foursome were able to dump

Quarterback Grogan. New England's running backs have likewise benefited. Fullback Sam ("Bam") Cunningham is off to what could be his best year ever, carrying for 308 yds. in four games. Quick-off-the-ball Andy Johnson is just a few steps behind Cunningham as a rusher. Both are effective receivers as well—Cunningham alone has 14 catches—but it is their speed in cannonballing through holes opened by the line that makes for yardage and scores.

Blithe Spirit. The holes were wide open as New England surged ahead with six touchdown drives in the 48-17 win over Oakland—including sustained, slugging marches of 92, 80 and 76 yds. Tackle Gray, a black, trumpet-tootling Mississippian, and his sideman, white, fiddle-playing Alabamian John Hannah, are close friends off the field and dominant on it. Tight End Russ Francis brought to the team a free spirit and a Hawaiian hex for use against opponents when he arrived as a first-round draft pick last year. Francis owns his own Beechcraft and zips around in a Maserati when he is not punishing linebackers or breaking into the clear for key receptions. "The car is almost as fast as the plane," Francis says nonchalantly. At 6 ft. 6 in., 240 Ibs., Francis still can sprint 40 yds. in 4.6 sec.—fast enough to make him a Maserati among tight ends.

Center Bill Lenkaitis, the N.F.L.'s only active dentist, extracts running room from opposing defenders. Right Guard Sam Adams is tagged "Cut