The 34-0 defeat to the New Orleans Saints in NFL Week 5 marked a significant negative milestone for Bill Belichick’s career with the New England Patriots.
It was not only the legendary coach’s first home loss by over 30 points but also just his third shutout with the Patriots and the second at home. The first overall shutout was 31-0 in 2003, and the first at home was 16-0 in 2016, both against the Buffalo Bills.
The largest point margin setback in Belichick’s career was a 35-point difference in the 38-3 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4 of 2023.
Before his arrival to the Pats, the head coach’s worst losses were a 37-10 loss to the Houston Oilers in 1995 and a 42-17 loss to the Washington Redskins in 1991. At that time, Belichick was still leading the Cleveland Browns
Belichick’s future
The veteran coach’s future appears uncertain, contingent on his ability to reverse the team’s fortunes in the coming weeks. A successful winning streak might extend his tenure through the season, possibly reaching the postseason.
However, if the poor performance persists, there’s speculation that franchise owner Robert Kraft might make a change before the end of the 2023 campaign.
Belichick has room for adjustments, and changes to the coaching staff could provide a much-needed boost.
The Mac Jones factor
Analysts suggest one urgent change for Belichick is bringing in a new offensive coordinator to assess quarterback Mac Jones’s potential.
In five games this season, Jones has amassed 1,008 yards with 105 completions on 168 attempts and five touchdowns. However, he’s thrown six interceptions, including three pick-sixes.
Drafted 15th overall in 2021, Jones took over the offense from veteran Cam Newton, who was the starter in 2020 after Tom Brady’s departure.
Jones has struggled under the pressure of leading a team in transition, and the upcoming weeks will be decisive for both him and Belichick. However, forecasts for improvement are not optimistic.
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Marca
