Nobody expected things to be smooth sailing for the New England Patriots after Tom Brady’s departure, but the last couple of years have been particularly painful for Bill Belichick’s team. Amidst injuries, questionable coaching decisions, and a midseason quarterback change, the Patriots limped to the finish line with a 4-13 record.
The Patriots’ 2023 season can be summarized through a variety of storylines, most of them negative. Let’s sift through key observations from a tough year in Foxborough, Mass.
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What Went Right
The Patriots still had one of the worst offenses in the league, but the unit did appear to improve from 2022 to 2023. the addition of Bill O’Brien to the offensive coordinator post led to key improvements at the tight end and running back positions, as well as overall better play-calling.
The defense started off slow but ultimately came on strong midseason. Fans should be proud of how the unit stood up to adversity after Matt Judon and Christian Gonzalez suffered injuries, J.C. Jackson was shut down for personal reasons, and Jack Jones was cut loose. This unit forced a turnover in 11 of its last 12 games and competed against playoff teams like Miami, Buffalo, and Philadelphia.
What Went Wrong
Oh, where to begin? An ugly season took a turn for the worse when Mac Jones played poorly, Judon and Gonzalez got hurt, and laughingstocks like the Saints, Giants, and Commanders all beat the Patriots. It takes a lot for a first-round quarterback and the world’s greatest head coach to lose their jobs, but that happen as a result of this historically bad season in New England. (Belichick and the Patriots reportedly parted ways on Thursday.)
It’s really tough to find the root of New England’s struggles. In addition to the offensive woes that plagued this team on a weekly basis, the defense had its fair share of bad games (despite a strong finish) and a normally-dominant special teams unit faltered. Beyond a specific skill position, it’s clear that penalties, playcalling flaws, and poor clock management put New England at a disadvantage in most of its games.
With that said, it’s fair to say that this season was doomed from the beginning. The Patriots were quiet last offseason and deserve boatloads of criticism for thinking they could replace Jakobi Meyers with JuJu Smith-Schuster. Furthermore, New England’s lack of aggressiveness when pursuing offensive line additions proved costly.
Team Award Winners
MVP – Jabrill Peppers
Pepper was phenomenal this past season, posting an 87.3 PFF grade. That includes a 90.7 run defense grade and a grade of 83.2 in coverage. He struggled with missed tackles but made up for it by picking off two passes and holding opposing receivers to a mere 58.8 percent reception rate. He was also charged with just one penalty despite playing 955 snaps, which was the third-highest mark on the team.
Rookie of the Year – Demario Douglas
The Patriots seem to have found a diamond in the rough in Douglas, a sixth-round pick out of Liberty. He turned heads during training camp and emerged as one of the offensive’s top weapons, especially after Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) and Kendrick Bourne (knee) suffered season-ending injuries. Douglas finished the year with 49 catches and 561 yards, all while playing 67.7 percent of his snaps in the slot and leading all Patriots receivers with a 74.4 PFF grade (minimum 35 snaps).
Best Offseason Addition – Pharaoh Brown
No disrespect to Brown, but if the best non-rookie offseason addition is a third-string tight end, that’s not great. With that said, Brown did deliver key production as a blocker and receiver, earning a 73.3 PFF grade. He averaged 23.5 snaps per game, appeared in all 17 contests, did not surrender a single sack, and finished the year with zero penalties. Brown will hit free agency in March but could be a priority re-sign for the Patriots.
Biggest Surprise – Mack Wilson Sr.
Wilson emerged as a key playmaker in his second season with the Patriots, less than two years after being acquired in a low-profile trade that sent Chase Winovich to the Browns. Wilson led the team with a grade of 86.9 in coverage this season, adding a solid 9.1 percent missed tackle rate. He didn’t start earning significant snaps until midseason but definitely flourished as a defensive centerpiece and should earn more consistent playing time in 2024.
Biggest Disappointment – Mac Jones
Cam Newton. Brian Hoyer. And now, Mac Jones. There’s the list of quarterbacks who tried (and failed) to lead the Patriots to glory in the post-Tom Brady era. Replacing the greatest quarterback of all time isn’t easy, but one would have hoped for (or even expected) a little more out of Jones, a first-round pick who won a National Championship at Alabama. Instead, he was benched midseason after totaling 10 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, and three fumbles. Bailey Zappe didn’t fare much better, but that’s understandable. After all, Zappe didn’t even make the initial 53-man roster. Jones, on the other hand, was supposed to be New England’s next franchise quarterback for years to come. Instead, the Patriots could be looking to spend their No. 3 pick on his replacement.
One Burning Question
Who replaces Bill Belichick?
That’s the million-dollar question right there. Belichick led the Patriots this entire century, coaching them to 302 regular-season wins and six Super Bowl championships (all while serving as their de facto general manager). But even the greatest coaches face adversity, and while the league has developed over the years, Belichick has failed to adapt. The Patriot Way fueled an unstoppable dynasty for two decades, but all good things must come to an end. With his departure, the pressure is on Robert Kraft to find a head coach who can lead New England back to glory.
