The Patriots made a lot of changes to their team this offseason, including deciding to fire 6x Super Bowl-winning coach Bill Belichick. The last years without 7x Super Bowl Champ QB Tom Brady had been rough. The fanbase, team, and most importantly Robert Kraft felt it was time to let him go.
With highly hyped #3 overall pick Drake Maye the Patriots were looking up and the fans felt hope coming into the season. But rookie head coach Jerod Mayo announced that 31-year-old vet Jacoby Brissett would be the Week 1 starter. With the Patriots horrid offensive line, this was the right move and he could learn from Jacoby on how to be a QB in the NFL.
Week 1 @Cincinnatti Bengals, W 16-10
The Pats started their season off to a great start by going into Cincinnati as heavy underdogs and came out with the win. While not doing well in the air their ground game was something else. Rhamondre Stevenson went for 120 yards and a TD.
Week 2 VS Seattle Seahawks, L 23-20
The Pats had an overall good game from all aspects except the secondary. Seahawks star Wide Receiver D.K Metcalf had 10 catches for 129 yards and a touchdown. They ended up losing in an overtime thriller by a Jason Myers game-winning field goal.
Week 3 @New York Jets, L 24-3
This was just a horrible game for the Pats and a disappointment for them and their fans. In this game, they didn’t do anything well and got killed. They were poorly coached and showed zero to no effort.
Week 4 @San Francisco 49ers, L 30-13
The Pats held in for the first quarter but after a Pick Six by star Middle Linebacker Fred Warner, the Niners took the game away. The highlight of the game for the Pats was a 63-yard field goal by Joey Slye 3 short of the record.
Week 5 VS Miami Dolphins, L 15-10
This was an ugly game from both teams who did little to nothing right on both offenses. The Dolphins without their QB1 Tua Tagovailoa failed to get a single touchdown but still came out with the W. The defense was able to play well but the offense certainly didn’t help them much.
Week 6 VS Houston Texans, L 41-21
After 5 games and a 1-4 record, Jerod Mayo made a change. Drake Maye, a highly hyped rookie, would make his first NFL start. He showed promise with 3 TDS for 243 yards but did have 2 picks. The defense was horrible, letting the Texans run and pass all over them.
Week 7 In London Jacksonville Jaguars, L 32-16
This was just a poor performance similar to many games so far. Drake Maye was the only bright spot throwing for 276 yards and 2 TDs. But even as a QB who doesn’t run traditionally leads the team in rushing yards which truly shows how bad it was for the Pats. They allowed a 96-yard punt return, which was a nail in a coffin representing how bad the special team has been.
Week 8 VS New York Jets, W 25-22
A great game to watch and a great game for the Pats. With Drake Maye going down in the 1st quarter, Jacoby Brissett took the reins and led the Pats to the win. Rhamondre Stevenson had a taste for the endzone with not 1 but 2 TDs in the win.
Week 9 @ Tennessee Titans, L 20-17
With Maye returning and against a questionable opponent in the Titans, the Pats were looking for a win. Maye was the leading rusher and had quite possibly the play of the year to send it to OT. He was in the pocket evading pressure for 11 seconds before throwing a TD pass to Rhamondre Stevenson. But the Pats couldn’t finish it off in OT with a Maye pick and a Titans game-winning FG.
With an AFC low 2-9, they haven’t been playing great but Drake Maye has plenty of promise. In some games, they have shown an immense amount of fight but some not so much. But in reality, it is a rebuilding year and they have shown good signs and as a Pats fan, I would be looking at the future in a new light.
