NFL Power Rankings Recap: Are the Pats the Worst Team in the League? Originally published on NBC Sports Boston
How low should expectations be for the New England Patriots as they enter Year 1 of the post-Bell Belichick era? If you ask NFL experts across the country, Patriots fans should brace themselves for their worst season in decades.
Now led by first-year coach Jarrod Mayo, the Patriots still have glaring issues on offense. The offensive line is so concerning that the team decided not to risk rookie quarterback Drake May to start the season. Instead, veteran Jacoby Brissett will take center for New England’s Week 1 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Mayo and Co. will be hoping that rookie wide receivers Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker can energize the offense along with free agent KJ Osborn, but even if they show promise, the Patriots will still lack the firepower needed to keep up with their rivals in the AFC.
Because of these issues, New England was ranked as one of the five worst teams in the league in the first batch of NFL power rankings. Here’s where some national media outlets rank the Patriots to begin the 2024 campaign:
NFL.com: 31 days
“The messy quarterback situation is the concern today, as Drake Maye will take over at some point. That became especially clear when it looked like Maye might have a chance to take over Week 1. The concern today and tomorrow is the offensive line, which has fallen apart dramatically in recent years, and while it’s been patched up with a potentially decent interior, there are some major questions at tackle. The defense isn’t a unit that can be easily tripped up at all, but the trade of Matthew Judon and the indefinite loss of Christian Barmore are concerns. Last year, the Patriots played competent defense, winning four games by a combined 15 points. Add to that a 9-16 record in Foxborough over the last three seasons, and you have some tough road games this season, including at San Francisco in Week 4. First-year coach Jerod Mayo has a lot on his plate.”
Pro Football Focus: 28th
“Bill Belichick is gone because of an offensive slump, but the Patriots’ defense remained excellent in 2023, ranking fifth in the NFL in expected points allowed per game despite key defenders missing time with injuries. The team’s biggest weakness has been its passing game, which has struggled with a 50.3 PFF passer grade and prompted the addition of a new quarterback and receiver in the offseason.
“The key in 2024 is quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who has earned starting opportunities with varying degrees of success and could provide a leg up for rookie Drake Maye. Rookie offensive tackle Caedan Wallace is expected to make an impact and could potentially develop into a quality starting left tackle. New England boasts a strong defense, but the offense is expected to struggle while relying on unproven playmakers and underwhelming veterans.”
CBS Sports: 30 days
“They need to keep playing Drake Maye, because this team isn’t going anywhere this season. This is Jacoby Brissett’s team right now.”
USA Today: 30 days
“No Judon, no Aiyuk, and the Pats seem willing to pay him. No problem, right? After all, QB Jacoby Brissett has a .500 record in two starts for the Pats… as a rookie eight years ago.”
Sports Illustrated: 31 days
“Earlier this offseason, I projected that Drake Maye would get the fewest starts of any rookie first-round pick other than Michael Penix Jr. Of course, JJ McCarthy will be that quarterback with a season-ending injury. Even with McCarthy out, I stand by my opinion I made shortly after the Patriots signed Maye: The roster isn’t good enough to support Maye, and until it does, he shouldn’t start. Starting Jacoby Brissett is the right decision. It’s not fun for a fan base that should be focused on incremental, week-to-week improvement along the offensive line, but it’s a pragmatic approach. Kudos to the organization for backing it up.”
Yahoo Sports: 32 days
“It’s understandable why the Patriots chose Jacoby Brissett over Drake May to start the season. It’s also an admission that the Patriots don’t have the infrastructure to support a rookie quarterback. It’s disappointing. But it’s also a prudent decision. If you look at the Patriots’ schedule, you’d be hard pressed to find a game where you think they’re going to win.”
The Athletic: 32 days
“The Worst Preseason Look award goes to first-year Patriots coach Jarrod Mayo, who said New England had a real quarterback competition and that rookie Drake Maye “outpaced” veteran Jacoby Brissett and made Brissett the starter. The Patriots’ organizational mindset is that the rest of the offense is bad enough to put their precious Maye at risk. That’s going to make pregame pep talks for Mayo difficult this season. Good luck, Jacoby.”
Ringer: 29th
“This Patriots offense is looking like it’s going to be a year from now, the receivers clearly need a No. 1 and No. 2 receiver and the offensive line is so worrisome that New England will likely have to bench rookie quarterback Drake May for his own protection. After trading edge rusher Matthew Judon without a clear plan to replace his productivity, it’s clear New England can take some bruising in 2024 and prepare for the season after that.
“Ultimately, the team will have to evaluate Maye, the No. 3 overall pick, during the season and wonder if he can trust his protection and support to take chances offensively like we saw this preseason. It won’t be fun this year, but Maye could be talented enough to accelerate a rebuild in the coming years.”
Bleacher Report: 32 days
“I wish Jerrod Mayo had drafted Drake May as the Week 1 starter instead of Jacoby Brissett. The Patriots haven’t been a fun team to watch since Mac Jones’ surprise rookie season three years ago. The results may not be great, but it’ll be fun to see May go out there and do his thing.”
“But Mayo made the right decision, because New England still has the worst offensive support in the NFL,” he continued. “Maye might actually give the Patriots a better chance to win, but Brissett is a seasoned pro who’s played a placeholder role before. There’s no reason to shatter a rookie’s confidence with a brutal early schedule that includes games against the Bengals, Seahawks, Jets, 49ers, Dolphins and Texans. You might not see Maye starting until late October. You probably won’t see a playoff-worthy Patriots team until at least 2025.”
ESPN: 31 days
New York Post: 31 days
