Patriots 2024 schedule highlights team's lack of appeal

The New England Patriots held on to their national appeal in the four years following Tom Brady's departure. Despite only making the playoffs once in those four seasons, they had 17 primetime games, helping to keep them in the spotlight despite some losing seasons.

The 2024 schedule tells a much different story, though. In fact, it's a somber one, as the Patriots only have one primetime game and only two other games scheduled after 1 p.m.

With the lack of primetime games that the Patriots once dominated, the reality is simple: they are a team that lacks appeal to the national media and audience, which is unfamiliar territory for the team that wreaked havoc over two decades.

Although the Patriots made excellent moves in the NFL Draft and got their quarterback of the future in Drake Maye, they are still not a marketable team. Without Bill Belichick and real star power, the Patriots are the same as any other mediocre team in the eyes of the NFL.

It’s sad to see the six-time Super Bowl Champion team fall to this level because they dominated the NFL stage for the better part of the 21st century and were constantly thrust into the spotlight.

The Patriots are a better team than what the schedule makers are giving them credit for. The lack of attention means the NFL surely thinks they will be either worse than last year or only slightly better. I disagree and think the Patriots have enough talent to be competitive this season.

They are far closer to being a wild card team than being at the bottom of the league.

The blessing in disguise is that the Patriots can fly under the radar and surprise people. If they can pull off some surprise wins early in the season, maybe they can be flexed into more primetime games where they belong.

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