Will the true New England Patriots please rise up?
The Patriots appeared like a reinvigorated bunch in Week 1 — Jerod Mayo’s first recreation as New England’s head coach — as they punched the Cincinnati Bengals within the mouth en path to an upset highway victory.
The identical might be mentioned for many of Week 2, regardless that the Patriots in the end suffered an additional time loss to the Seattle Seahawks in New England’s dwelling opener.
However Week 3? That was a multitude. The Pats appeared eerily much like the squad that went 4-13 final season — Invoice Belichick’s remaining marketing campaign in New England — and was projected to complete among the many NFL’s worst in 2024.
Story continues beneath commercial
Thus, we should ask: What sort of workforce is New England proper now?
It positive feels just like the Patriots are going via a little bit of an id disaster.
“I do not wish to bounce to conclusions. After we managed the road of scrimmage all through the preseason, and on each side of the ball within the first two video games, to take a seat right here and overreact on the third recreation, and controlling the road of scrimmage, I do not wish to try this,” Mayo instructed reporters Monday at Gillette Stadium. “I nonetheless assume we now have a tricky, bodily soccer workforce. That is my expectation, and that is additionally their expectation, to go on the market and set up your toughness. Within the fourth quarter, hopefully, you will have an opportunity to win.”
Final Thursday evening’s 24-3 loss to the New York Jets might be an aberration when all is claimed and finished. It was a brief week, on the highway, towards a tricky divisional opponent led by a future Corridor of Fame quarterback in Aaron Rodgers.
Story continues beneath commercial
However the defeat nonetheless ought to go away a foul style within the Patriots’ mouths, largely as a result of the problems that plagued New England in latest seasons — lackluster quarterback play behind a shoddy offensive line — cropped up as soon as once more. And the protection stunk.
“I all the time inform the fellows, win, lose, or draw, we now have to be prepared to alter the web page,” Mayo mentioned Monday. “Within the NFL, particularly early within the season, it is so up and down. Nobody actually is aware of who’s good and who’s unhealthy. Even when the schedule launch comes out, simply since you had been good the previous 12 months, doesn’t suggest you are going to be good this 12 months. Similar factor, simply since you had been unhealthy final 12 months, doesn’t suggest you are going to be unhealthy this 12 months.
“For me, it is all the time been about altering the web page and transferring on to the following one. Because of this we all the time speak about, particularly on the quarterback place, not getting too excessive or getting too low. Let’s attempt to deal with successful and deal with losses the precise manner and study from these errors.”
The Patriots’ subsequent alternative to craft an id — the id they need — comes Sunday when New England travels to Levi’s Stadium for a Week 4 matchup with the defending NFC champion San Francisco 49ers.
Story continues beneath commercial
