Patriots Power Rankings for Week 13: Bottoms up!
Unsurprisingly, New England ranked 31st overall this week. The Patriots aren’t superior to any other team, and the Panthers are worse. Nevertheless, I was still interested in reading the most recent commentary, and the experts did not let me down by adding even more negativity. Tops is from The Ringer, which declares that the New England Patriots are a complete bust. That pretty much covers it.
Not all bad, though, because bottom of the rankings means top of the draft order for the following season. That’s the new fascination with watching sports; some are even wondering if Chad Ryland was advised not to kick. That was untrue, as anyone watching that game in real time can attest. If the Patriots were able to win, they would. The fact that this rudderless ship was built and is being steered by master planner Bill Belichick is simply incomprehensible. But the ride isn’t over yet, so grab a seat.
There are six games left for the Patriots in Week 13: Chargers (1:00 pm), Chiefs Monday night (8:15 pm), @ Broncos Sunday night (8:15 pm), @ Bills (1:00 pm), and last but not least, home against the Jets. It may seem like a long time to be a lame duck team, but that’s simply how things work out. I continue to approach each game as it comes up and I’m pulling for the players who don’t give up to succeed. Those guys merit the encouragement.
31st – NFL Nation (ESPN): The Patriots score 13.4 points a night on average. This season, the offense has been the main factor holding the team back. A mix-and-match offensive line, limited skill-position targets, and shaky quarterback play have all contributed to the removal of quarterback Mac Jones from four games. Additionally, Bill Belichick’s financial and roster-based investments in special teams have not yielded the desired results. Reiss, Mike [-1]
Eric Edholm (NFL.com) on the 31st: Irrespective of Bill Belichick’s decision to stay as New England coach, the Patriots may have a high enough 2024 draft pick to look at quarterback prospects next season besides Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe.
It seems that the current quarterback situation has been spoiled, as the Pats botched up another game in which their defense held the opposition to 10 points. After Zappe provided some sunshine in the form of a touchdown drive, Jones was benched (for the fourth time this season) in the second half. He then turned heel and threw a poor pick into dense coverage. Maybe in the final stretch, New England will choose Zappe. Perhaps it won’t have any effect. At this point, these are Sisyphean matters. The shockingly awful season has gotten even worse. With teams outside of the AFC East, the Patriots are currently 0-7. [nc]
Dalton Miller (Pro Football Network) on the 31st: When a moveable object and a stoppable force collide, what happens? The Patriots’ game against the Giants was, well, a test of patience. Or maybe psychosis. It’s only one game sample, after all. Mac Jones’s meager physical attributes probably prevented him from ever being a top-tier franchise quarterback. Congress should, however, look into the events of the last two seasons involving the young quarterback. Although he appeared to be a capable player as a rookie, his mistakes are totally unjustifiable, and they have completely destroyed him.
31st – NFL Nation (ESPN): The Patriots score 13.4 points a night on average. This season, the offense has been the main factor holding the team back. A mix-and-match offensive line, limited skill-position targets, and shaky quarterback play have all contributed to the removal of quarterback Mac Jones from four games. Additionally, Bill Belichick’s financial and roster-based investments in special teams have not yielded the desired results. Reiss, Mike [-1]
31st – Staff (The Ringer): For New England, each week brings a fresh low. The Patriots failed to score at least ten points for the fourth time this season in their 10-7 loss to the Giants on Sunday. Mac Jones has been benched four times this season, accounting for 36% of his 11 starts. Late in the fourth quarter, Belichick’s rookie kicker, whom he had selected in the fourth round, failed to convert a 35-yard field goal that would have tied the score. However, the Patriots now have a legitimate shot at the third pick in the draft, which is fortunate because this team lacks a long-term quarterback. — Princiotti Nora. [nc]
