5 bold predictions for the New England Patriots in the 2023 NFL season

5. 2023 is Bill Belichick's last year as head coach of the New England Patriots

As you can probably tell, I am not super high on the 2023 season for the Patriots. I don't think they are going to do enough to get into the playoffs, and I think Robert Kraft's patience is about up. For that reason, I think we'll see 2023 as Bill Belichick's last season as head coach of the Patriots. It would be the ending of perhaps the greatest run by a head coach in the history of professional sports, but all good things must come to an end.

Ever since Tom Brady left, the Patriots have been a marvelously average team, unfortunately. They've made the playoffs once in those three seasons, and they got trounced in the Wild Card round during their lone post-Brady postseason appearance. I do think the organization is in a better situation than they were in 2022, but I don't think it will be enough for them to make progress in the AFC East, which is shaping up to be the best division in the NFL.

This change would be a shock to many Patriots' fans, but I think it would be a needed one. Someone like Jerod Mayo would be a perfect candidate to replace Belichick. Perhaps New England would want to look externally. You never know. But I think getting a fresh face in there and maybe bringing in a new head coach and a separate general manager has a positive impact on the future of the team.

Call me crazy, but I think 2023 is going to be it for Bill Belichick.