The Patriots have lost their way for half a decade after the departure of Tom Brady and it's up to owner Robert Kraft to plot a new direction

Jerod Mayo

Patriots owner Robert Kraft needs to decide whether he wants to give his hand-picked successor to Bill Belichick another season to prove himself.

After a disappointing 40-7 defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Chargers this Saturday, the New England Patriots are 3-13. If they lose in week 18 to the Buff

One positive to close it out: It was nice to see safeties Dell Pettus, Jalynn Hawkins and Marte Mapu have an extended hour-plus heart-to-heart in the locker room after Saturday’s loss. It was also nice to see Wise, a defensive captain, sit down to have a chat with Polk after the game.

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert threw three touchdown passes as Los Angeles routed the New England Patriots 40-7. By improving to 10-6, the Chargers secured a wild-card berth in the AFC playoffs with one game remaining on their regular-season schedule.

Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez is questionable to return in Week 17 with a head injury after Drake Maye suffered a similar scare

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS first-year coach Jerod Mayo walked through the interview room door at Wembley Stadium as if he had just broken the huddle from his career as a playcalling linebacker. He looked exasperated as he took the podium and spoke from the heart. "Look, what I'd say is we're a soft football team across the board."

The Patriots haven’t been sound on offense since Tom Brady left New England at the turn of the decade. But the defense was an aspect of the game the team could rely on until now. The defense has drastically regressed from last year despite little player personnel changes and a similar overall record.

For the first 23 years of the 21st century, the New England Patriots were the NFL’s model franchise not just success in terms of success but also stability. Then came 2024, and with it some franchise-altering change.

The New England Patriots kicked off the season with quarterback Jacoby Brissett behind center, moved on to Drake Maye in Week 6 and they could have another swap to end the season. There is no question who the quarterback of the future is, but with no postseason to play for, the team could be sitting Maye for Week 18.

Bills fans were holding their breaths after Buffalo's best wide receiver didn't get up after this stellar catch.