Week 9 preview: I guess we have to watch
When did the New England Patriots turn into the Boston Red Sox? The Patriots still have nine games left in the season. Fans will continue to watch because it is the NFL, but they will be thinking twice before adjusting any family plans due to the game. Plus, we like rubbernecking and complaining. It's what we do when we are winning, nevermind when the team sucks.
Only real diehard Red Sox fans kept watching them play the final two months of the season. Red Sox chief baseball officer, Chaim Bloom, was on shaky ground with the fans and media for his entire tenure, but it appeared ownership wasn't terribly disappointed with his thrifty ways. That was before owner John Henry started seeing half empty stadiums in August and September, as well as hearing about tickets for Red Sox-Yankees games selling online for $1. Bloom was dismissed with a few games left in the season.
What if the same thing happens to the Patriots? Could it happen to the Patriots? It is surreal to consider the possibility. Chaim Bloom didn’t have the pedigree Bill Belichick has, but the rumblings are getting louder for Bill’s dismissal. Rumors were swirling this week about the possibility of the Patriots trading Belichick to their opponent this week, the Washington Commanders. Obviously one has to dismiss it as only rumors and gossip, but just the fact that people are talking about it is incredible.
Belichick will have a front row seat to scout his potential future team when the Commanders come to Foxboro. The Patriots are only 1-3 at home this year. Overall, they are 2-6.
The Commanders raised the white flag at the trade deadline by trading two of their best defensive linemen, Montez Sweat and Chase Young, this week. They did well by getting a second- and a third-round pick for the two.
The Patriots did nothing at the deadline despite their season, for all intents and purposes, being over. Expiring contract players like Josh Uche, Hunter Henry, and Kyle Dugger were expected to be on the block. Belichick was very confrontational this week when asked how he handled both jobs of coaching and being GM. He admitted it is impossible to do both. He has his personnel and scouting staff do all the grunt work. When it is time to make a decision, they all confer. If Belichick feels he needs something, he tells his staff. Otherwise, he focuses on coaching.
The Commanders come to town having lost five of their last six games. They sold off two of their best defensive linemen. This should be an easy win, right? Mac Jones should have plenty of time to throw, right? He might even have a 300-yard game, right? OK, slow down.
The problem is this Patriots team is not very good. They’re just not. Once you say it to yourself and believe it, the easier it will be to stomach the remainder of the season. We have become the New York Jets. The Zach Wilson-led New York Jets are 4-3 despite Aaron Rodgers being out all year. The Jets are better than New England. Accept it.
In years past, this would be chalked up as an easy win for the Patriots. In 2007, Belichick was criticized for running the score up on Steve Spurrier and the Washington, ahem, Re******, 52-7. New England beat them three more times since then – 34-27, 27-10, and 33-7.
Prediction: Washington 28, New England 20.
I may never pick the Patriots again this year. We’ll see. They have to show me something first. Their best receiver, Kendrick Bourne, is lost for the season. The offense was already anemic to begin with.
Left tackle Trent Brown may not play. We’ve spoken, ad nauseam, about how bad the offensive line has been all year. When the story of the Patriots 2023 book is written, it will might as well be titled, If You Can’t Block, You Can’t Win. The line was starting to get some consistency going, but how do you feel about Vederian Lowe protecting Mac Jones’ backside? Sidy Sow? You think you saw some scary things on Halloween? You ain't see nothing, yet.
Washington second-year quarterback, Sam Howell, has put up some gaudy stats this year. He has thrown for close to 400 yards (397, 388) in two of his last four games. Wide receiver, Terry McLaurin, is better than anything the Patriots can wheel out there.
Brian Robinson Jr., is a running back who has a rare combination of size and speed. While the Commanders are a pass-heavy offense, Robinson cannot be ignored.
Defensively, the Commanders are vulnerable. They have been susceptible to deep passes this year. However, just like last week when the Dolphins’ secondary was down two of their starters, the Patriots just don’t have the ability to capitalize.