Although the Patriots' 2024 season wasn't expected to be one that would end in the playoffs, there was a strong belief that they would be an improved team from last year, especially since owner Robert Kraft decided to move on from Bill Belichick in the offseason.
But in a somewhat unexpected fashion, the team has gotten worse under Jerod Mayo and could end up with a worse record than 2023, which led them to the third overall pick in the NFL draft. Because of that, Mayo has been rumored to be in the hot seat for the past month, putting more pressure on him to sneak out a win over the season's final three games.
The problem is who is on their schedule to end the year. They meet the Bills twice in three weeks, with the Chargers in between, leaving little optimism that New England will add another win to their season.
Because of that, the pressure on Mayo has only increased and will be strongly felt this Sunday in Buffalo. An improved performance from the team might take the heat off for a bit, but if they look anything like they did against the Cardinals, it seems fair to assume it could be the beginning of the end for him in Foxboro.
Jerod Mayo needs a solid game from the Patriots against the Bills this week to help save his job
Rumors have dominated headlines over the past few weeks about Mayo's status as the Patriots head coach with the 2025 offseason nearing. Many have been conflicting, with some suggesting Kraft has already decided to retain the head coach for another year, while others have stated he needs to prove himself over the next three games.
One of the more recent reports came from Dianna Russini of The Athletic, who emphasized Mayo's need for a good stretch of games to end the season to lock down his job for next year.
Last week I reported that Patriots owner Robert Kraft had been telling people in private that the plan is to stick with Jerod Mayo. They knew there would be bumps and bruises following Bill Belichick. Kraft would like a multi-year run for the 38-year-old head coach, and they’re… https://t.co/3nrDyV1dKg
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) December 20, 2024
Considering the first game of that stretch is on the road against the Bills, it won't be an easy achievement for Mayo, if at all attainable. The Patriots have proven to be a poorly disciplined team this year almost weekly and have not taken advantage of playing hard against teams that should have been beatable for them.
We saw that last week against the Cardinals, and based on that performance, it's hard to imagine that they'll sneak out a win or get anywhere near a win against the Bills on Sunday.
It won't be easier when the Chargers come to town next week, either. They are also a team competing for the playoffs and could dominate the Patriots on their home turf in a way they haven't for several years. It's the unfortunate reality that the six-time Super Bowl Champions are in and it's from a position that is great for a rookie head coach to be in.
How they fare over the next three weeks will dictate a lot about how the organization will handle the offseason from a coaching staff and roster perspective. Many will be coaching and playing for the jobs, adding even more reason to perform well. We'll see if they can defy the odds by proving everyone wrong.