3 Takeaways from Patriots' Week 18 Loss vs. Jets
In a meaningless game played in miserable winter conditions, the New England Patriots fell to the rival New York Jets 17-3.
The Patriots managed to hang in for most of the game, and it wasn't sealed until Breece Hall ripped off a 50-yard touchdown run inside the two-minute warning. However, it was another ugly game in what has been the ugliest New England campaign in recent memory.
Now, the Patriots look to what's ahead in 2024 and possibly a future without longtime head coach Bill Belichick.
Here are our biggest takeaways from New England's Week 18 loss to the New York Jets.
This Certainly Felt Like the End for Belichick
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We don't know if Belichick will be elsewhere next season, but that feels like the logical outcome.
According to Mark Daniels of MassLive, Belichick will meet with franchise owner Robert Kraft early in the week to discuss what's next.
"As of Sunday, it's not expected that Kraft would outright fire Belichick. A mutual parting of the ways would be a more likely option," Daniels wrote.
On the field and on the sidelines, it also felt like this was the end of an era in New England. The Patriots have shown a lot of fight in recent weeks, but they were flat in just about every phase on Sunday.
The offense was especially bad, mustering just 120 yards of total offense, three points and going 1-of-14 on third down. Quarterback Bailey Zappe had his worst outing of the season, finishing 12-of-30 for 80 yards and two interceptions.
The end result was New England's first loss to the Jets since the 2015 season.
The Loss Comes with a Silver Lining
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Fans willing to don a tinfoil hat might believe that losing in Week 18 was part of the plan. NFL franchises don't openly tank, and Belichick certainly doesn't seem like the type to buy into purposeful losing, but the loss essentially locked up the No. 3 pick for New England.
That could mean a shot at a top quarterback prospect like Caleb Williams or Drake Maye will be heading to New England.
Maye and Williams are the third- and fourth-ranked prospects on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's latest 2024 big board.
After watching Mac Jones struggle for most of the season, seeing him replaced for Zappe down the stretch and then witnessing Zappe flop in the finale, it's clear that the Patriots need a new franchise quarterback.
If losing to the Jets helps New England net the high-end signal-caller they need, fans will look back on Week 18 as a victory. The unknown, of course, is who will be around to coach the Patriots' next quarterback.
New England Will Start 2024 with a Solid Defensive Foundation
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The Patriots defense deserves a ton of credit for keeping the Patriots in the game despite a putrid offensive performance. Hall's late touchdown made the game appear less competitive than it really was, and the defense gave New England chances for nearly four full quarters.
The Jets tallied a mere 69 passing yards, 254 total yards and went 3-of-15 on third down.
The defense has actually been one of the league's better units down the stretch, and it allowed just over 17 points per game over the final eight contests—notably, without injured standouts Matthew Judon and Christian Gonzalez.
The Patriots have plenty of offensive reloading to do in the offseason, but they should have a solid defensive foundation in 2024—though work will be required in free agency. Pass-rusher Josh Uche, linebacker Mack Wilson Sr., safety Kyle Dugger and defensive back Jalen Mills are among New England's impending free agents.
Whether Belichick returns or someone new takes the reins, the proverbial cupboard is not completely bare. Expect the offense to be the primary focus for New England in the coming months.
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