To put it as kindly as possible, this has been one of the most forgettable and putrid seasons the Patriots have had in a generation. Many of us are old enough to remember the ugly days of the late 1980s and early 1990s, but this is foreign territory for any Patriots fan born after 1993.
Last season's 4-13 record was the team's worst since the 1992 Patriots wound up 2-14 - poetically, that was the last time New England subsequently earned the top pick in the NFL Draft - and if the Patriots can beat the Bills' backups on Sunday, they'd match that. All signs seem to be pointing towards 3-14 and the Patriots securing the right to the No. 1 pick and the commodities that come with it.
But let's be honest here. The fact that the curtain is dropping on this tumultuous season is a win for all of us.
With the exception of the development of rookie quarterback Drake Maye, this season has been largely forgettable. The season has been winding down in front of a half-empty stadium, with fans calling for Jerod Mayo to be fired and calling for Mike Vrabel to be the next head coach. Players are venting to the media, which is a telling sign the old Patriot Way that Bill Belichick personified is dead.
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Mayo has looked every bit like a rookie head coach with limited experience. The upset of the Bengals in Week 1 - one that may cost Cincinnati a playoff spot-feels like it was 10 years ago. Mayo has been given the benefit of the doubt frequently but it's more probable than not that Sunday will be the last time we see him as the Patriots' head coach.
It's not Mayo's fault the Patriots have the worst roster in the NFL, but 99.9 percent of the time the head coach is the ultimate goat.
While Maye showed flashes, the offense was as excitable as a high school basketball team that runs a four-corners offense. It's clear he's a Bentley that is driving an offense resembling that of a 1995 Toyota Corolla. Upgrades are sorely needed on that side of the ball for the Patriots to be contenders again.
Mayo has said Maye will start on Sunday, but the coaching staff needs to treat this like a preseason game. It has zero meaning. The stadium will be half-empty, and ticket prices on the secondary market are going well below face value. Maye needs to be healthy going into the offseason and playing him for the full 60 minutes would be a bad look.
The Patriots haven't provided their fans with very many theatrics this season. There's been more to boo about than to cheer about. It's poetic that the curtain will finally fall on this season around 4:00 Sunday afternoon.
We're on to the NFL Draft.