NFL Rumors: Patriots' Atmosphere Described as 'Glum' and 'Depressing' amid Struggles

With the New England Patriots trending toward their worst season since at least 2000, the feeling surrounding the team has reportedly been negative.

According to ESPN's Dan Graziano, sources described the atmosphere in New England as "glum" and "depressing" prior to last week's 21-18 upset win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, which snapped a five-game losing streak.

At just 3-10, the Pats are the worst team in the AFC by two full games, and things don't figure to get much better for them in the coming weeks, as their next three games are against winning teams in the Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills.

For about two decades, the Patriots were the measure of excellence in the NFL, reaching the playoffs in 17 out of 19 seasons from 2001 to 2019, and winning six Super Bowls during that timeframe as well.

New England's fall from grace coincided with the departure of legendary quarterback Tom Brady, though, as the Pats are about to miss the playoffs for the third time in four years since he left.

Head coach Bill Belichick is regarded by many as the greatest coach in NFL history, but success has largely eluded him without Brady, and quarterback play has been an especially big issue for the team this season.

Mac Jones has started 11 of the Pats' 13 games under center, but he has thrown for just 2,120 yards, 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, prompting Belichick to bench him for Bailey Zappe.

While Zappe looked good last week in throwing for 240 yards and three touchdowns in a road win over the Steelers, it has still been a brutal season for the Patriots overall.

As usual, Belichick has coached up a strong defense that has kept the Patriots in games, but the offense ranks last in the NFL this season with just 13.0 points per contest.

The one potential positive to come out of this season is that the Pats may have a chance to select one of the top quarterbacks in the 2024 NFL draft in either USC's Caleb Williams or North Carolina's Drake Maye.

However, whether or not Belichick will be part of that decision-making process is the big question looming over the organization.

Patriots insider Tom E. Curran said Monday on NBC Sports Boston's Arbella Early Edition that owner Robert Kraft made a decision on Belichick's future after the team's Week 10 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Germany.

Per Curran, Kraft plans to part ways with Belichick at the conclusion of the 2023 campaign "for a variety of reasons."

For many years, it was almost unfathomable to think that the Patriots would fire Belichick and not allow him to go out on his own terms, but things may be headed in that direction.

A feeling of inevitability regarding Belichick's future with the organization or lack thereof could potentially be part of the reason for the reported doom-and-gloom feeling around the Patriots this season.

The Patriots are a franchise that has not been used to losing very much this century, and whether Belichick or someone else is in charge, there will be a great deal of pressure this offseason to find a franchise quarterback and turn things around quickly.