Patriots run out of excuses as problems pile up – NBC Sports Boston

Another year, another European embarrassment. Missing the playoffs is becoming a real problem.

Each of the Patriots' six losses had a different tone in the aftermath.

Lost to the Seahawks? Damned. It could have been 2-0. Somehow they beat themselves.

Lost to the Jets? Wow. A short week and injuries, but that was a no-show.

Lose against Niners? Bad pitch against a good team. But not competitive. It's getting worse.

Loss for dolphins? Can't beat Snoop Huntley at home? It's bad. Heads have to roll.

Defeat against Texans? Houston is much better. DRAKE!!!!

Lost to Jaguars? Welcome to the Dysfunction Dome.

🔊 Patriots Talk Podcast: Pats hit rock bottom as they unravel on and off the field in a loss to the Jaguars | Listen and Subscribe | Watch on YouTube

There were two goals for the 2024 Patriots.

First, find a quarterback with guts, potential, talent, arm strength, appropriate size and the right mental makeup to be a good soldier in a rebuild.

Second, stabilize an organization that was in crisis in the previous two seasons. Become a team that radiates competence and stability. One that no one wants to play at the end of the season because they are so damn brave, tough and smart.

They managed the first one. In second place they are now worse than last year.

It's not surprising to see a first-year head coach leading a team with a new offensive coordinator (and a new game manager), a first-year defensive coordinator, a first-year offensive coach, a new wide receivers coach (etc.), and a bunch of new players are struggling to gain a foothold. Especially given the absurd number of destabilizing injuries to key players and leaders in the squad.

But it doesn't have to look like that.

On Monday morning, Jerod Mayo tried to put the toothpaste back in the tube again after saying something incendiary that sparked a firestorm.

This time he called for a mulligan for calling his team “soft” after the Jaguars ripped their collective heart out of their chest and showed it while it was still beating.

Mayo addressed WEEI and said he meant to say the team was “playing soft.” I understand the difference. I'm sure you do too. But damn, verbal rake stepping is an issue almost weekly.

It started with “burning some money,” evolved into mixed messages with the quarterbacks, and has continued steadily throughout the regular season.

It causes peripheral bushfires that need to be dealt with and distracts from the football team's hectic fire.

Actually, it was a little more than a bushfire. Mayo used the S-word around 1 p.m. ET, meaning it was just the place to watch soccer in America. His former teammate, close friend and Quick Slants co-host Devin McCourty was a guest at 7 p.m NBC's Football Night in America say the following:

“Toughness is not a skill. You don't have to be fast or do anything special to be tough. The second part of this is, “Why, Jerod?” Why isn’t this team tough?

“When you hear that a team is not tough but soft, you ask yourself: 'What is the head coach doing? How does he prepare them for deployment?' Mayo and his staff have a lot of questions to answer over the next week.”

The questions should come from inside the building. From players to coaches.

Let's take a look at offense and special teams: How can a serious football team allow itself to be attacked 18 times in a row without sending more and more defenders into the penalty area or to the offensive line until they simply stop attacking?

The team is missing its defensive backbone with Christian Barmore, Ja'Whaun Bentley and Jabrill Peppers. Still, they should be able to bend and not suffer cuts.

But if they fail, do you just leave them out there as coaches and let it move on? When players don't do their job – as veterans Werden Godchaux and Daniel Ekuale suggest happens on the defensive line – what are the consequences of that?

Coaches point fingers at players. Players point fingers at teammates. It's dysfunctional. It's disorganized. And the phrase “It starts with me…” that is often used in response to this criticism doesn’t feel entirely sincere.

Daniel Ekuale wants some of his teammates to check their egos at the door. Ted Johnson, Phil Perry, Tom Curran and Michael Holley react to Ekuale's postgame comments after the Patriots lost to the Jaguars.

As for the crime? We all understand the extenuating circumstances of injuries at the top and the pathetic efforts made to prioritize the line in the offseason.

It can be argued that the offensive line-up (Demontrey Jacobs, Michael Jordan, Ben Brown, Vederian Lowe) was brilliant compared to expectations for almost three weeks. It’s the “good” players who hurt them.

Rookie Ja'Lynn Polk has hands like feet, but somehow looks in the mirror and sees Reggie Wayne looking back. Hunter Henry will sneak an awkward false start in every other game. Mike Onwenu too. Rhamondre Stevenson has fumble problems. They will no longer use Javon Baker or 2022 second-rounder Tyquan Thornton.

Meanwhile, in the left lane, offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt is hitting 57 MPH with his hands at 10 and 2 open. High. The. Attack. It was okay to practice “not losing” in the first five games. But the cat is out of the bag, the horse is out of the stable and it's time to give up the ghost.

The best player on the team is the quarterback. In two games, he had two less-than-stellar shooting decisions and a few wild throws. Van Pelt (and the rest of the staff) have done a great job developing Maye from April to now. So just buckle up and see what Maye can do if you really try.

It's clear that the Patriots aren't going to win anytime soon with a stifling defense. Adjust. The. Plan.

As McCourty said, “Mayo and his staff have a lot of questions to answer this week.” In that case, it would be wise to find out exactly what they want to say. Literally on the podium. In a figurative sense on the field and with their decisions.

Because the mulligans are almost gone.