I don't think people realize how difficult it is to win in the NFL.
The Patriots are so successful because they are a game-plan team. They prepare for their opponent's specifics strengths/weaknesses.
If you are unable to practice, basically at all, that approach goes out the window. Pile on 3 starting OL being injured, 1 (of our only 2) DTs being out, and some bad luck, and this is what you get.
For anyone who wants to close the door on the season because of today's game, good riddance to bad rubbish. Tons of time still ahead for this team, players who will be returning from injury/COVID, time to prepare and evolve as a team.
Does it suck to likely be 2-3? Yeah. Does it suck to drop 2 games you really should have won? Of course. But it's a 17+ week season. Teams have made the playoffs at 8-8 and 9-7.
What you've seen (all of it) is real. The strong play in the first few weeks was real - this team can be very good. The awful play due to a rash of injuries, roster shakeups due to COVID, and virtually no practice/prep time, is also real.
Let's see how this team's health and capabilities look in December.