Even the Patriots players know they stink.
Safety Jabrill Peppers seemingly acknowledged the Patriots are, well, ass, after losing, 10-7, to Tommy DeVito and the Giants on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
“You lucky we ass, bro,” Peppers, an ex-Giant, seemed to say to Saquon Barkley while they embraced after the game.
The embrace was caught and shared by NFL cameras.
“We ass” is certainly one way to describe the Patriots.
Once the model franchise in the NFL, the Patriots are now on par with the hapless Bears and Cardinals. They’re jockeying for draft position, not playoff spots.
With all due respect to DeVito, the Patriots of yesteryears would not let an undrafted, third-string quarterback beat them.
But these Patriots are a different animal.
DeVito outplayed Mac Jones in what may have been the former first-round pick’s final start with the team.
The team reportedly is set to start Bailey Zappe on Sunday against the Chargers.
The Patriots enter that matchup with a 2-9 record and losers of four straight since their stunning 29-25 come-from-behind win over the Bills on Oct. 22.
While Peppers and the Patriots defense are still solid – opponents have scored a total of 40 points across the last three games – it’s the woeful offense that is sinking the ship.
The Patriots rank 25th in yards per game, 24th in passing yards per game, 25th in rushing yards per game and 31st in points per game, where they’re only ahead of the Giants.
It’s not a good thing when you’re compared to the 2023 Giants offense.
The Patriots’ fall from grace has put Bill Belichick’s future under the microscope.
It’s possible these could be his final days with the franchise, even if he called rumors that he already has another team lined up for 2024 “ridiculous.”
New England’s saving grace is that it’s currently projected for the No. 2 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, which should allow the team the opportunity to draft an elite quarterback like Caleb Williams or Drake Maye or the draft’s top playmaker in wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.