Bill Belichick being on the hot seat this year is gaining some momentum
Through three weeks of the 2023 NFL season, the New England Patriots are staring down a 1-3 start if they fall to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4. Has the clock officially starting ticking for Bill Belichick? The team is coming off their first win of the season in Week 3, but it was against the lowly New York Jets.
The team's schedule gets much harder in Week 4, as they have to travel to Dallas to face the high-powered Cowboys, who feature strong units on both sides of the ball. This game is another example of the Patriots simply not having enough talent on the roster to matchup with their opponent.
In fact, the Jets would have likely be a loss had Aaron Rodgers been healthy and suited up, but I digress. The team now has to deal with Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and a strong offense, but it's the Cowboys' defense that gives people fits.
Micah Parsons and a talented secondary might shut down this Patriots' offense. On the season, Mac Jones has thrown five touchdowns against two interceptions for a "meh" passer rating of 87.7. He looks better, and could even improve his play with time, but nothing special has occured thus far.
Well, some people seem to be jumping on the idea of Bill Belichick being on the hot seat. I do think the seat is slowly beginning to warm up, and I think it gets slightly hotter if the Pats lose in Week 4. Here's what Bleacher Report had to say about Belichick being on the hot seat:
"There was a time when Bill Belichick exiting New England on the team's terms seemed unfathomable. If he was going to move on, it would be through retirement rather than a firing.
- Brad Gagnon
And it's still possible that's the case. Even if Bob Kraft decides the franchise needs a fresh start, Belichick might have earned his right to at least "resign."
However, the Patriots haven't won a playoff game since 2018 and have just had their first 0-2 start since 2001. They're also fully expected to lose in Dallas this weekend to drop to 1-3, which will start the sound a death knell for the team's hopes in the deep and talented AFC.
That desire for a fresh start might soon become impossible to ignore.
That said, New England would have little incentive to part with Belichick unceremoniously even amid a lost season. I'm increasingly of the belief that his time with the Patriots will end in a matter of months, but we're still not that close."
If the Patriots fail to make the playoffs this season, I think we see Robert Kraft step in and part ways with Belichick, who is solely responsible for the current roster. It's simply not good enough to win a ton of games in the modern-day NFL. I think people need to begin to come to grips with the idea that Belichick might not be the head coach of the New England Patriots in 2024.