It doesn’t take an expert to see that the New England Patriots stink right now. They’re 1-4 and are coming off back-to-back blowout losses. Predictably, the reaction from across the NFL media landscape has been grim.
Rex Ryan is saying the Patriots will never win again. Mac Jones has been left for dead. There are now serious questions about Bill Belichick’s job security.
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We went through the reaction from Sunday’s game to find out what they’re saying in Boston and nationally. Here’s some of the most notable reaction:
“Of all the adjectives I thought I’d ever use about a Belichick team, “hapless” is not one I thought I’d be typing. … Belichick weeps. Kraft gnashes teeth. Mac forces throws. Season in the toilet.”
Albert Breer, Sports Illustrated
“Sunday wasn’t the day the Patriots’ dynasty died, but it created an opportunity for anyone watching to conduct a pretty thorough autopsy. Here’s how bad it is: New England will go to Las Vegas next week having yielded 69 unanswered points, having been outscored in each of nine consecutive quarters and having been held out of the end zone in 10 consecutive quarters.”
An AFC executive to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer
“Quite simply, they have no talent. And it doesn’t help that that’s at the quarterback spot as well.”
“This team stinks. They’ll never win again. I’m telling you, they had their run with Brady. When they let him go, I told you they would never win again.”
“If Mac Jones was in San Francisco, he would be playing like Brock Purdy. … No quarterback is going to be successful in New England.”
“As I’ve said for many years, Brady MADE Belichick. Now Robert Kraft is going to have to make a big decision about Belichick.”
Nick Underhill, New Orleans Football Network
“Patriots definitely aren’t a good team.”
“To be clear, I do not believe the Patriots would ever actually fire Belichick. But … to think there’s no chance the Patriots would get to the end of this season and decide it’s time for a new voice at the front of the room would be naive. That’s especially true if they’re also looking to start over with a new quarterback next year, as it appears possible.”
“The Saints’ defensive effort was so dominant, the sellout crowd repeated booed and Bronx cheered the Patriots throughout the game.”
Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald
“The Patriots have one of the NFL’s worst QBs and WR corps. They are the NFL’s worst pass-protectors. Defensively, down their 2 best players, they allowed New Orleans to score its first TD in 20 drives. Their special teams rank 32nd by DVOA. This is a terrible football team.”
“A New England team that looked plucky in competitive losses to the Eagles and Dolphins to begin the season has simply collapsed amid adversity and self-inflicted errors over the past two games.”
“This is beyond bad, and beyond fixable in the present. Perhaps Belichick will manage to hold off the dogs, but if the coach’s attempt at ‘starting over’ as he put it following the game doesn’t work, he risks a much larger reset after the season.”
“The Patriots’ fanbase maintained a steady chorus of boos throughout the game as the Saints defense completely shut down New England’s anemic offensive attack. The largest cheer from the home fans came when quarterback Mac Jones was pulled in favor of Bailey Zappe in the fourth quarter.”
“The Patriots aren’t close to being good right now. This Sunday wasn’t an anomaly. Last Sunday wasn’t an anomaly. There could be a lot more of these Sundays to come. And Belichick seems to know it.”
“It’s stunning that it has come to this. But the unfathomable has become the reality. The Patriots stink.”
“Jones may have been damaged irreparably during the Patricia Era, or he simply might have been hitting his ceiling as a rookie — the Alabama product was billed as very polished before his draft — but whatever the reason, Jones looks lost now.”
“If Jones never starts another game for New England, I wouldn’t be surprised. If he’s back to start next week, I wouldn’t be surprised either. But back here next season or for a potential fifth year of his rookie deal? No thanks.”
“The confidence is gone. All is lost. There doesn’t seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel for the Patriots offense. How did the 2023 Patriots get here?”
“The idea of getting rid of Belichick midseason seemed almost inconceivable before Sunday. But Belichick’s punt decision was so absurd it almost seems as if he’s daring Kraft to make a move.”
“The Patriots’ offense is shockingly bad. Even if you had the lowest expectations heading into the season, it would have been impossible to predict Rhamondre Stevenson averaging 2.8 yards per carry and JuJu Smith-Schuster averaging 6.1 yards per catch five weeks through the season.”
“Jones’ decision-making in that situation highlights one of the major issues holding back the offense — turnovers that turn into points for the opposition. Backups Bailey Zappe (who replaced Jones in the fourth quarter) or Will Grier might not be an upgrade, but Jones’ slide the past two weeks is a major concern.”
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