Week 6 preview: Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse, here comes Jimmy G, Jakobi, and Josh

Many thought the Patriots hit rock bottom when Mac Jones got benched and they lost to the Cowboys, 38-3, two weeks ago. Then Mac Jones got benched again and the Patriots lost at home to the mediocre New Orleans Saints, 34-0. The first loss was the largest margin of defeat during the Belichick era. The second loss was the largest shutout defeat in Patriots history.

It can’t get any worse than that, right?

How about getting embarrassed by former Patriots’ Josh McDaniels, Jimmy Garoppolo, and Jakobi Meyers? McDaniels has struggled to get his footing as a head coach – having failed at Denver and so far at Las Vegas. Jimmy G was once viewed as the successor to Tom Brady – and if Belichick had his way, he may very well have been. Despite being a winner at every stop, Garoppolo has never earned respect around the league. Then there is Jakobi Meyers – the Patriots leading receiver the last three years who the Patriots didn’t re-sign. 

A loss to these guys would be an indictment on the New England franchise. Yes, it would be a new low.

Both teams are very similar, which is not a good thing. Both teams have anemic offenses. Both rank in the bottom five of the NFL in scoring. Neither team has scored 20 points in a game through five games this season. That is hard to believe in the modern day NFL. The Patriots are averaging 11.1 points per game. The Raiders aren’t much better at 15.8.

Both teams are among the NFL leaders in turnovers and turnover differential. Jones and Garoppolo are both susceptible to head-scratching blunders. Jones has thrown six interceptions and lost a fumble. The fumble and two of the interceptions were returned for touchdowns. Garoppolo has thrown seven interceptions. Garoppolo has a higher ceiling at this point, and he has Myers and the better Davante (Adams). Adams only has one more reception than Smith-Schuster, Parker, and Geseki combined.

Both teams have talented running backs who have struggled to get on track. Josh Jacobs and Rhamondre Stevenson are both averaging under three yards per carry. It is hard to blame them as they are getting hit almost as soon as they are handed the ball.

The difference in this game will be that the Raiders do have some playmakers. The Patriots have none.

The two teams are going in different directions. The Raiders are coming off a victory at home against Green Bay. They have been competitive in all but one game (against Buffalo in Week 2). The Patriots have seen themselves score fewer points in each subsequent game (20, 17, 15, 3, 0). The good news is that streak will come to an end this week as they can’t score less than no points.

Mac Jones’ confidence is shot. He is seeing ghosts in the pocket. His head coach has never put his full support behind him. Players on the team last year were split on whether Jones or Bailey Zappe should be the starting quarterback. His performance this year, especially these last two games, hasn’t done anything to solidify his place as the future of this franchise. Just the opposite.

The Patriots will be without Demario Douglas and JuJu Smith-Schuster. It might be a good thing for Smith-Schuster to sit this game out as everyone would be comparing him to Myers. 

The Patriots might have a little bit of good news as they should be getting an injection of speed on offense. Tyquan Thornton should be in uniform and active for the game. The Patriots need to find some hope, any kind of hope, for something or someone to spark this offense. Maybe Thornton can slip past a defender and make a big play. Maybe.

Stevenson may have a chance to get going against Vegas, but I’ve been saying that for the last couple of weeks. The Raiders are giving up 128 yards per game on the ground so if the Patriots can’t get their running game going against them, they may never.

An already horrid offensive line will be without Cole Strange and Riley Reiff again. Reiff actually looked decent in his brief time at guard against the Saints last week in his first action of the year. Maxx Crosby is going to have a field day pass rushing past Vederian Lowe. What is the record for most sacks by a player in a game? (The answer is seven by Derrick Thomas in 1990) The good thing is Jones will have a straight on view of Crosby coming from his right side.

Prediction: Raiders 24, Patriots 10

It may be a while before I pick the Patriots to win a game again, and that is alright by me at this point. The season is lost. Accept it. Embrace it. They needed to be at least 3-3 and showing improvement going into the divisional games against Buffalo and Miami to have any chance of making the playoffs. Instead the best they can do is 2-4 which means they will be likely 2-6 after Buffalo and Miami. It would be one thing if the team was showing some signs of gelling. Instead, they are falling apart.

If you look closely (maybe not even that closely), you will see signs of the Patriots players already giving up. Trent Brown has checked out. DeVante Parker isn’t even coming close on his 50/50 opportunities. It is more like 5/95. Where have Kyle Duggar and Christian Barmore been on defense? J.C. Jackson was reluctant to touch anyone against New Orleans. He doesn't want to risk an injury for this team. These are the players that have stood out to me as giving up. Keep your eyes open for more and more examples as the season fades away.

The Patriots are playing uninspired. You don’t see much passion on the sidelines. Jones is constantly seen, sitting alone on the bench, with his head down, moping.  He isn’t getting on his linemen to block better, or his receivers to work harder to get open. There is also no one coming up to him to pat him on the back and encourage him.

And then there is Belichick. One really has to question if he is capable of inspiring a team anymore. Do players really want to play for this guy anymore? I honestly think that is a big reason the Patriots haven’t been able to score any big free agents, along with the fact that they don’t want to spend money. There was a time when players would be lining up to come play for Belichick in an attempt to win a ring. Not anymore. His act has grown tired. The only players he can get to sign here are players who have no other options, like JuJu Smith-Schuster, Ezekiel Elliott, and Riley Rieff.

So I think the Patriots have already packed it in. They won’t have to tank to get a top five draft pick. They are doing just fine as it is.

The Raiders will score 20+ points for the first time this year. Jakobi will finish with something like 8 receptions and 100+ yards as he looks to stick it to his former team. Jimmy G might gift the Patriots some good field position with a couple of turnovers, but the Patriots will be unable to optimize on it. Get ready for another long day. Get used to it.