Even when the 2024 Patriots win, it's a loss. And for arguably the worst team this franchise has seen since the 2-14 unit of late Maine native Dick MacPherson in 1992, Sunday's 23-16 win over Buffalo's junior varsity team that cost New England next spring's top draft pick is just too fitting.
While we should all be pleased this circus of a 2024 season filled with sacks, bad penalties, pitiful coaching, and just plain bad everything has concluded; many fans are likely to be disappointed with the fact that the win over the Bills dropped the Patriots into No. 4 in the draft order behind Tennessee, Cleveland and the New York Giants.
Yuck. Sorry, but I don't think Travis Hunter is walking through that door.
While you have to give the Patriots an A for effort and for playing with pride, it was clear winning the game wasn't the No. 1 goal no matter how much Jerod Mayo will tell you that it is on any given Sunday is to win. Drake Maye gave way to Joe Milton after just one series, which was the right decision, but this game had the feel of a JV high school basketball game.
Buffalo, which was also playing its backups with a goal of being healthy for its playoff run, appeared more than willing not to let its division rival secure the No. 1 overall pick. Sean McDermott clearly wasn't gung-ho on letting third-string quarterback Mike White engineer a game-tying drive in the final two minutes.
The Patriots can put the 2024 season in the rearview mirror, even if the future means no first overall pick
The Patriots have their quarterback in Maye, who completed a fabulous rookie season, given the lack of talent around him. There was no need to play him any more than one series.
There is plenty of talent in this spring's draft, headlined by Heisman Trophy winner Hunter. Tennessee and the Giants are quarterback-needy teams, while the Browns are stuck with Deshaun Watson's albatross of a contract, so my early prognostication has Hunter heading to Cleveland unless the quarterback-needy Raiders swoop in and try to trade up.
The No. 1 pick would've given the Patriots tremendous flexibility, whether it would've been taking Hunter or trading down to acquire more picks. The fourth pick puts them in no-man's land in both contexts. If this was Mayo's last game on the Patriots' sideline, this win is payback equal to Johnny Bananas telling Sarah Rice, "I'm going to take the money and run, Teej," on Season 28 of "The Challenge."
If there's any bright spot, it's Kayshon Boutte's 100-yard performance, and he showed that he'll have a place in the wide receiver room next season. The Patriots also have a valuable backup in Milton, who has a cannon of an arm and is a great athlete.
The 2024 Patriots couldn't do much right, and that includes losing a meaningless game.
We're on to the draft.