1. LITTLE BIG GAME - It’s the end of the 2024 season. PTL! Hallelujah! Etc! One of the most disappointing campaigns in franchise history draws to a merciful close this Sunday. HOWEVER, if you thought this lousy season would end without some extra drama, intrigue and controversy, well then you haven’t been paying attention. Considering how things have gone since late September, we can’t say we blame ya.
To say Sunday’s game has massive implications and ramifications before the players take their vacations - that’s right, all the -cations (just hopefully no altercations) - would be an understatement the size of the Gillette scoreboard. A Week 18 game with the dreaded record reversal of a 3-13 team hosting a 13-3 team usually should mean nothing except playing out the string or auditioning for work next year. Resting players for the playoffs should be on the mind of 13-3 visitors while wondering how to not be 3-13 next season on the mind of the host.
These scenarios are valid entering Sunday’s Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots regular season finale at Gillette Stadium. The game means nothing to Buffalo except to prepare their backups for possible postseason work while resting starters in a season where Super Bowl dreams are on the mind. For the Patriots, however, it’s a game of massive consequence on more levels than we can count. But we’ll try.
The Pats now have control of the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft thanks to the Giants beating the Colts out of nowhere last week. Hey, they play to win the games, right? Whether they want a player at one or to trade the top pick for multiple picks (our wish) is for another Sunday 7. That commodity for a team in dire need of talent is beyond valuable and should be held onto at all costs, despite the embarrassment that comes with being the worst to get the best pick. All the Pats have to do is lose, which is something they've been extremely good at this season, and the top pick is theirs. Thus we should be fairly confident they’ll hold the pick, right?
Except New England head coach Jerod Mayo may be coaching for his job. Why this would be the referendum game for ownership on Mayo’s capability as an NFL HC is beyond our paygrade. Given the ghastly results in two of New England’s final games (only a solid first half vs. these same Bills prevented a total post-bye collapse), long lighthouse-sized shadows are being cast over Mayo’s ability to lead this team from darkness to dynasty or at least out of despair again.
He and his staff, primarily offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt and especially defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington, are on very warm if not hot seats as the season finale looms. Thus it would make sense that they would do everything in their power to win this game and look competent in the process. Mayo said earlier this week about the Pats’ level of compete vs. Buffalo Sunday, "I've never been a part of a team as a player or as a coach going into a game not wanting to win.”
Van Pelt said Drake Maye, who would definitely give the Pats their best chance to win the game and lose the pick, will be starting unless he’s injured or unfit (Maye was on the injury report with a right hand issue this week). To a man, from Mayo to Eliot Wolf to the players, everyone has said the goal Sunday is to win the game and tanking is not an option (sure, and the Colts tried to win with Curtis Painter in 2011). That is what they’re supposed to say, but do they mean it? They might. And we get it. But it’s complicated.
You can’t just come out and say, “The goal Sunday is to lose and do what’s in the best interest of the football team in the long term.” That’s against the rules and a general sense of fair play. You can, however, rest some starters and key players in the sake of “giving some players a chance to show what they got for next season,” like third-string QB Joe Milton, who has received non-scout team QB reps at practice this week. That is both within the rules and reasonable. They might still win the battle of the backups, they might not. At least this is the right way to go about a tricky if not unique situation like this.
Then there’s the player factor. It’s not the job of any offensive or defensive player on any team to throw a game away for a draft pick. Losing to bring in a potentially better play goes against their DNA and could cost them a job. Plus we all know losing begets losing, and competing to win is how you build culture, a culture of competition and excellence. Under normal circumstances we’d advise abiding by all of those edicts. Sometimes, though, desperate times call for desperate measures, or at least losing with dignity.
Thus we have the finale conundrum: win to try and save face, grace and possibly a workplace? Or lose to remain on the bottom so you can draft at the top? A brutal scenario for the franchise at every level, not to mention the fans, who have shown their frustration online and in-person (more on that later). Players were unhappy when they heard fans booing during the 40-7 loss to the Chargers at home…that is, the fans that actually showed up or didn’t leave at halftime. A sad scene indeed.
The state of the Patriots is not likely fixed by one move, one player, one decision. However, perhaps one last trip to the depths on Sunday could be the beginning of the team’s next effort to get back to the top. Crazy to think Sunday could feature cheers in defeat and boos in victory.
2. IF NOT MAYO THEN WHO - The armchair GMs of Pats Nation have spoken loudly and clearly online as to how they feel about the current situation of coaching and operations with the Patriots. The decision as to who remains from the current coaching structure, if any, and who else walks through those doors to help improve the 2025 team lays squarely on the shoulders of Robert and Konathan Kraft. Our guess, for what it’s worth, is that Jerod Mayo returns with some tweaks to the operations, ownership feeling they owe him another chance with a more seasoned and veteran staff, better talent around their rookie coach.
The players continue to back their coach and their coordinators. So if not Mayo then who? The most popular choice among fans and those in the know is former Patriots linebacker and Titans coach Mike Vrabel, a tough-minded, football-savvy, no-BS guy who has ties to every aspect of ownership and operations. He’d be his own man, but still give the Krafts’ legacy and continuity comfort. However, if ownership is bent on change they may have to act quickly…
Vrabel took a meeting with the Jets Friday, and it’s no secret he’ll be a, if not THE most popular name in the coaching cycle (“Mr. Vrabel, the Bears are on Line 1 and Jacksonville Line 2.”) The former Pats linebacker will have a buffet of choices, plus the connection to two-time Pats OC Josh McDaniels could also be enticing to the Krafts.
Other big names also include Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, an intelligent, articulate offensive play-designing wunderkind who has been in lockstep with Lions coach Dan Campbell in Detroit’s renaissance. Sure, Johnson is working with legit offensive talent (it helps), but he seems to have something new in his bag of tricks every week. The Chicago Bears are rumored to be very interested in Johnson, among several teams. Johnson would represent a major departure from what the Krafts and Pats have known, which might not be a bad thing to many.
Other names include Tampa OC Liam Cohen and old pal Minnesota Vikings DC Brian Flores, who’s as tough and tenacious as they get on the sidelines. Speaking of tenacious, there is one other name that has recently entered the chat.
Good old Spider Y-2 Banana might be feeling all nicey about seeing his name back in the mix. A current employee of Barstool Sports, can you imagine if Jon Gruden ever returned to coaching and for the team he holds accountable for taking away his chance at winning a Super Bowl with the Raiders? Snow Bowl vengeance is not something I’d have on my Pats coaching bingo card.
Also worth wondering aloud: would a new GM be hired first to assist in a coaching search should ownership elect to clean house? Or would a coach be hired and then allowed to assist in the selection of a new GM?
Whoever the coach is, be it the current one or someone who does not currently hold an office at Gillette Stadium, Pats ownership will need to make a strong statement for their fans one way or another at season’s end, in defense of maintaining status quo to a degree, or why things needed to change yet again. Stay tuned!
3. IGNORE THE NOISE - Just when the din of dissent, which has been borderline deafening in recent weeks around the Patriots, was starting to quiet down, along came Jahlani Tavai.
You may have heard the comments by now, but if you need a moment to rest your face in your palms, again, we’ll be here.
OK then. Where were we? Oh, right…fans booing.
Much has been made recently of the boos that have rained down from the stands at Gillette, with coaches and players acknowledging them. It’s been mostly defenders like Deatrich Wise Jr. and Davon Godchaux who’ve said the fans have been spoiled in Foxboro, which was true years ago, and that the jeers that have replaced the cheers aren’t appreciated. However, there’s no denying that watching a team win only two games at their home stadium over two years, whatever the previous standard may be, can be pretty frustrating in any economy, at any price point.
It seems Jerod Mayo understands why the fans would be voicing their displeasure, which it should be noted is not wholly and completely aimed at these players. Fans are letting everyone involved with the organization know how they feel about how the team is performing. It’s not just a referendum on any one player. Also, worth noting, is that some fans the players aren’t hearing from have already made their voice heard in silence, by not showing up. Selling their tickets. Generally being out on the team.
There’s no world in which Tavai was looking to kick a hornet’s nest or flick a cigarette onto a pile of oily rags, but telling fans to know their role and that they shouldn’t boo, seemingly telling them they don’t understand? Not a great look, Bob! If the fans felt they were watching a turnaround, a legitimate rebuild underway then they could revel in past glory as the Pats underperform their Vegas win total (4.5 games) again.
Mayo addressed Tavai’s comments Friday morning, saying again he understood why the fans were so angry - “Hey, look, they pay the bills!” - and that he handled Tavai’s comments internally. Appropriate messaging to put out another possible wildfire…if only Mayo could play Smokey the Bear in the clubhouse and remind his players that only they could prevent forest fires on the radio and in social media. He would know.
4. EL SOLO PRO BOWL - Before you wave another angry finger at the Patriots and their roster, it should be noted that two teams in the AFC East didn’t have a single player elected to the Pro Bowl. So take that, Jets and Dolphins!
It is with that lukewarm burn we congratulate Patriots special teams ace Brenden Schooler on his selection to the AFC’s pro Bowl squad.
Schooler has had an excellent season, one of the few Patriots whose resumé improved during 2024 (along with Drake Maye and Christian Gonzalez). Schooler even got into some games as part of “The Longhorn Package” (he’s a Texas grad), rushing the passer and being a QB spy. Versatility like his should be valued and utilized as often as possible. Like with slot corner Marcus Jones, also an excellent special teamer and offensive weapon. Sadly Jones finished another campaign on IR, this time with a late season hip injury.
The most noise regarding the Pats and the Pro Bowl came from the omission of Gonzalez, who is having an excellent extended rookie campaign, if you will, in what is actually his second year in the league. Gonzo is one of the Pats’ best players and a rising star, no doubt. His status as a Pro Bowl caliber player is not in doubt, as was highlighted by ESPN’s Bill Barnwell, who said Gonzo’s season was All-Pro worthy (FWIW - All Pro nods aren’t out just yet).
Gonzalez might be adversely affected by the lack of spotlight on the Pats, local fan apathy (the online community loves them some Gonzo though), or other fans seeing the Pats’ defensive struggles and ignoring his excellent play. Gonzo shared his feelings about being left off the roster.
The team tried to get him elected, even offering a free autographed jersey in a giveaway for votes. There were other AFC corners worthy of selection as well, like Kansas City’s Trent McDuffie, over perhaps Cleveland’s Denzel Ward. Sure, it's a crowded field of worthy players, but it’s likely that the demure and understated Gonzalez and his star can't burn bright enough for many to see his excellent play through the darkness surrounding the team. His time in the national spotlight will come for sure.
5. TWIRP - In the latest and final installment of “This Week In Receiver Problems” we present, without further comment:
Among many, this is a room of good intent and bad results who the season can’t end quickly enough for.
Rookie receiver Ja’Lynn Polk, whose first season in Foxboro is mercifully done, spoke with MassLive about his struggles this year. Not long ago a diamond seemed to have been discovered in the receiver rough, and perhaps Polk, a standout at Washington last season, could be the one to break the Pats’ second-round receiver curse, not fall victim to it. He is the poster child for wanting to hit the offseason reset button.
Meanwhile the fans are left wondering what could have been otherwise. Last weekend’s performance by Ladd McConkey (8 receptions, 94 yards, 2 TDs), added salt to the wound seeing as he basically had Polk’s season in a game in front of the team that decided not to draft him 34th but rather trade back and select Polk. The lemon in the wound came Monday night when San Francisco’s Ricky Pearsall, taken 31st overall, put up over 140 total yards on eight catches with a touchdown himself, in one game. By the way, Pearsall was shot four months ago in an armed robbery. We can’t make this stuff up.
At least through it all Kendrick Bourne has kept a bright spirit, even if his numbers aren't where he'd like them, or if he's not always lined up where he should be. He’s lobbied for his coach to get a second chance. He’s spoken up for his OC. He’s campaigned for players like Tee Higgins to come join the team next season. All this plus positive postgames, practice vibes and a smile on his face. Let’s hope there’s a place for the energy, effort and attitude of Bourne on whoever’s Patriots team this is next season. They need talent for sure, but they need more guys like Bourne wherever possible.
6. NICE KNOWING YOU - Ah, the Yannick Ngakoue era in Foxboro. Where were you when it began…and ended? Probably the same place as it lasted all of six games.
The veteran pass rusher was released this week, not because he was grousing or phoning in effort on a team headed nowhere. In fact, Mayo said Ngakoue was a terrific teammate and did all they asked of him, with his release a benevolent gesture by the team to allow the nine-year vet to latch on with a contender in need of pass rush depth. Neither a massive failure nor a success, his time in New England was what it was.
In the interim the Patriots, the team with the fewest sacks in the NFL, continue to audition pass rushers in hope of someone getting to the opposing QB or generating something resembling a pass rush. The latest candidate…
That’s right: Truman Jones, a second-year defensive end out of Harvard who spent time on the Chiefs practice squad before his release this November. Seems he gets an audition on Sunday against the Bills to earn an invite back to Foxboro this summer. We wish him, like the many others who’ve tried to replace Matthew Judon this season, nothing but luck. Hopefully he has five sacks in a thrilling Patriots defeat.
7. NTKs - And for the first time of 2025 and final time of the 2024 season, we present you with everything else you “need to know” for the best broadcast and game consumption experience possible…that has nothing to do with draft picks. This is where fans know their place!
SPREAD: Buffalo, expected to only play Josh Allen a few series, is a 2.5 point favorite, with an over/under of 36.5.
ALL-TIME: Despite losing the last matchup just two weeks back by a score of 24-21 in Buffalo, the Patriots continue to hold the all-time lead 78-51-1. The Bills, champs of the AFC East for the last five years straight, are making up ground in this rivalry for sure.
WEATHER: Like the souls of the Foxboro Faithful, the conditions around Gillette Stadium Sunday should be frigid, a high of 35 degrees, but with swirling winds and clouds a real feel of a toasty 20 degrees should be in the cards. Bundle up, baby!
BROADCAST: Bills at Pats, kicking off at 1 p.m. EST, will be broadcast on CBS (Ch. 4 locally) with old friends Spero Dedes and Adam Archuleta on the call, with Aditi Kinkhabwala manning those comfy cozy sidelines one last time.