If This Is The End For Belichick, Patriots Fans Need to Enjoy the Ride
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Anyone who watched the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday night saw firsthand what it really looks like when a head coach loses the locker room.
Chargers head coach Brandon Staley watched his team give up an astounding 42 first-half points against the Las Vegas Raiders, which was the largest halftime lead for the club in franchise history.
It was ugly, and this wasn’t just a case of a team being grossly outplayed. They looked like a team that absolutely didn’t want to be there. There was little effort on each play, with guys arm tackling, not hustling, and seemingly just playing out the string.
By the time it was over, the final score was 63-21, with a couple of those scores by the Chargers coming on plays where the Raiders sat back and were caught sleeping given their massive edge.
But make no mistake, last night’s display is what it really looks like when the players have completely given up.
Obviously, despite being 3-10, that’s yet to happen here in New England. Granted, the Patriots were shut out against this same Chargers team two weeks ago, but Mother Nature played a key role there. That game was played in a downpour during Bailey Zappe’s first start in more than a year, with a variety of things holding them back during that 6-0 loss.
The question then was how Zappe might fare in more favorable conditions. The result was last week’s 21-18 win in Pittsburgh, which saw Zappe put up 21 points and toss three touchdowns.
Granted, it certainly wasn’t perfect. New England was shutout in the second half and it required their defense to keep the Steelers at bay and seal the victory.
Still, that’s exactly what happened and to this point, the defense continues to play hard despite the team’s record and the uncertainty around Belichick’s future.
All things considered, they’ve really done a great job. These last four weeks, when it comes to points, they’ve allowed just 10, 10, 6, and 18, respectfully. They’re 8th in yards per game, 3rd in rush defense, and tied with the Texans in points per game at 20.9, essentially one point off from teams within the top 10.
Needless to say, they’re still playing like it’s Week 3, and with match-ups against teams like Kansas City, Denver, and Buffalo up next over these next few weeks, we’ll probably see guys stepping up with something to prove for whatever their collective futures might hold.
Given where we are in the season, it’s probably safe to expect the chatter about Bill Belichick to really begin to ramp up in these next few weeks.
NBC Sports Boston’s Tom Curran recently reported that Patriots ownership has already made the decision to part ways with him by the end of the season, which will likely set up one of the most interesting offseasons we’ve experienced in two decades.
The last was obviously the one following Pete Carroll’s firing at the end of the 1999 season, which included back-and-forth jockeying between Bill Parcells and Robert Kraft as the two had to reach an agreement on compensation before Belichick could be hired.
There was some speculation that the Patriots might explore other options, with former Jaguars coordinator Dom Capers among names being floated at the time as Kraft tried to force Parcells’ hand.
Ultimately, Kraft bit the bullet, gave the Jets a first-round pick, and the deal was made.
Fast-forward to now, and if things go the way it sounds like they might, Kraft might be the one trying to negotiate a similar deal to let him go.
However, the difference this time around is that Belichick, with his resume, likely will force his way out if Kraft has indeed made up his mind. Greg Bedard recently said he believes Belichick may force a firing, which would negate any possibility of New England receiving compensation.
At 71-years old and with not a big window left to add to his storied career, having his potential new team give up any draft capital probably isn’t going to be an option Belichick will even consider.
As a result, the idea of an amicable split feels unlikely.
Jeff Howe of the Athletic wrote on Friday that while signs are pointing to a split, some wonder if Belichick might get a chance to run it back for one more year, especially depending on how Sunday’s game against the Chiefs plays out.
“However, there are still some in the building who wonder if an unlikely winning streak — or even three wins in their final four games against rivalry opponents — could change the narrative surrounding Belichick’s future,” writes Howe. “While it surely appears owner Robert Kraft is prepared for a split after the season, a continued string of strong defensive showings, signs of life from quarterback Bailey Zappe’s offense and an eradication of game-swinging mistakes could conceivably swing Kraft’s thinking in the other direction. Games against the Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills and New York Jets still carry weight with the Patriots’ old guard.”
One key question with all of this is how things are viewed by ownership in terms of what played out with Mac Jones, which clearly played a key factor in where we are now.
The former first-round pick struggled at various points through the early part of the schedule, with Jones finally imploding following two blowout losses along with a stretch where he was benched an unprecedented four times.
You can argue the personnel losses, the lack of talent placed around him, etc. But all of that is overshadowed by the puzzling decision-making, the throws back across his body twice in one game, and obviously the turnovers.
One touchdown play in Pittsburgh from Zappe to Hunter Henry showed a stark contrast in execution, with Jones suffering an interception when they ran it earlier in the year against Miami. Whether it’s a lack of confidence or just overthinking things, it’s clear that a change needed to be made.
With a decision looming over Jones’ fifth-year option, the team did the right thing in exhausting its efforts to make absolutely sure Jones had every chance to rebound.
Instead, he simply couldn’t bounce back, and his return in 2024 feels unlikely after how things have gone this season.
Maybe Belichick knew this and he needed Kraft to see it. That underthrow in Germany from Jones to Mike Gesicki resulted in a reaction from Kraft that spoke volumes. With the quarterback position being paramount to the success of any coach, if the plan was to fully evaluate Jones, especially after what had transpired, it shouldn’t surprise Kraft that they’re in this position.
It’s possible that if Zappe shows significant growth and his team continues to rally around him, maybe it becomes more about the personnel department, and it buys Belichick another year. That’s, of course, provided he’s amenable to delegating those decisions even more than he possibly already has.
That feels like a long shot, but like anything else, things could potentially look much different than they do four weeks from now.
For now, with only four games left, reality is beginning to set in. The second part of this incredible era finally feels like it’s coming to a close, and it’s definitely surreal, to say the least.
Knowing their history against the Chiefs, Sunday should be interesting to watch, and a win over the defending champs would be a nice way to start finishing out this disappointing 2023 season.
Like the rest of his players, it’s an opportunity to remind potential teams that with a talented roster, Belichick’s still got what it takes to win games. He just may no longer be the guy 100% capable of putting a group like that together.
Sunday’s game may ultimately end up being a reminder that Belichick continues to know what it takes to slow down top offenses and give his team a chance each week.
If this ride does come to an end, that will be the bar the next coach will have to reach. Once Belichick moves on, it’s probably safe to say that repeating that success defensively may be something that will end up being harder than people realize. Especially considering some of the unbelievable game plans he’s put together over their championship runs.
In the meantime, enjoy the ride and appreciate these next few weeks for what it is. Because like anything else, once we’re a few years removed from this, it likely won’t look as bad then as it might feel right now.
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