The post-Bill Belichick and Tom Brady era was always expected to be a rough ride, but in the years that followed the quarterback's departure, it's difficult to say seeing the Patriots fall to their ultimate demise was just how bad it was envisioned.
From the lack of proper preparedness for Brady retiring to the seeming reluctance to make drastic moves to improve the roster, Belichick didn't see the team for what was to inevitably come. That is, in part, what led to his dismissal after the 2023 season, as he was replaced by Jerod Mayo. Unfortunately, that inexperience and lack of vision also resulted in his early dismissal, opening the door for Mike Vrabel to take over for the 2025 season.
All of this is partly responsible for the chaos seen by the Patriots on the field and why they haven't managed to win double-digit games since Brady's last year in 2019. They have become one of the worst teams in the league in record time, with little hope of turning it around, which is entirely unfamiliar for those in New England.
To make matters even worse, their showing over the last five years is far more disappointing than anyone could have imagined or predicted, with a new stat proving just that.
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New statistic shows just how far the Patriots have fallen over the last five years
In ESPN's Mike Reiss's weekly piece, he generally reveals an unknown fact about the Patriots, whether about the team/organization or a player/coach. Generally, these facts are fairly intriguing, but this week's could be considered downright depressing.
"The Patriots' 45-game streak of scoring fewer than 30 points is the longest in the NFL, according to ESPN Research."
It perfectly sums up just how bad the Patriots have gotten since the 2020 season, and if you're an optimist, it could be interpreted in a way that shows they can only go up from here. And that's the hope Mike Vrabel brings to the table as the next head coach, along with the impressive and experienced staff he's brought with him.
The hope is they will be equipped to do that and put a roster in place to improve and move in the direction they should have been over the last few years. Based on who will be on the sidelines, it seems more possible than ever for that to happen.