Patriots 2024 schedule highlights team's lack of appeal
![Jan 17, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo (L) and owner Robert Kraft pose for photos after a press conference announcing Mayo's hiring as the team's head coach at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports Jan 17, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo (L) and owner Robert Kraft pose for photos after a press conference announcing Mayo's hiring as the team's head coach at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4560,h_2565,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/49/01hygygq2es293j88d66.jpg)
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.
Patriots 2024 schedule.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) May 16, 2024
Late bye. No back-to-back West coast games.
Just one prime-time game (possible for more with flex). pic.twitter.com/7w9VHuJJGY
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.
Only 1 primetime game for the Patriots:
— NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSBoston) May 16, 2024
Felger and Holley react to the Pats season schedule and the lack of primetime games (and games after 1pm) 📅 pic.twitter.com/Vb75hZmDo4
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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