Image courtesy of Winslow Townson/Getty Images/ Patriots fans watching yet another blowout loss.

The Patriots have hit rock bottom after today’s 34-0 home loss to the New Orleans Saints. It is the team’s worst home loss since 1969. The Patriots are 1-4 for the first time since 2000 which was Bill Belichick’s first season as head coach. Sadly, they have hit rock bottom and no one knows where they go from here.

The offense is a mess. Bill O’Brien was supposed to develop Mac Jones and run an efficient offense that was organized, disciplined and made big plays. Well, O’Brien has not done any of those things and now you have to wonder how much of what is going on with the offense is on him. 

Defensively, the Patriots have played well enough to keep the team in games but they are not getting consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks and they are not generating turnovers, something they did last season when forced 30 of them. 

The Patriots clearly need to do something different to turn their season around but no one seems to know what that something else is. 

Bill Belichick eluded to the possibility of changes in his post game press conference but he did not elaborate. He was asked once again this morning about what potential changes could be on the horizon and per usual, he did not say much.

“Well, yeah, we need to make some improvements on where we are, so we will see what all that entails. Haven’t gone into it yet, but we will.”

Obviously it is still too early in the week to announce any possible changes but fans and the media alike are looking for a pound of flesh so some changes have to be made this week. You cannot keep marching to the same beat week in and week when you are 1-4 and not competitive. 

Changes will probably be made this week but realistically speaking, what changes can Belichick make at this point to turn the fortunes of the franchise around this season? Unless you swing a trade for a player, there is not much else he can do to turn the fortunes of this team around. Bottom line is, Belichick is right. They need to play and coach better. It really is that simple. 

The players seem to be at a loss when it comes to what needs to change. When asked about what they thought needed to change, the responses were telling. Especially Mac Jones response to the question. 

“Really, just not being ready to go, I guess. I mean, as an offense, you want to go out there, you’ve practiced all week and you feel confident so definitely want to get improvement on that. And not any of these games are not starting off very hot, so we’ve just got to improve.”

“Not being ready to go” means he doesn’t think the team is prepared and the guys are flat out of the gate. How else would you define what he is saying? 

Tight end Hunter Henry, addressed the question as well but he didn’t seem to have much of an idea either. 

“I don’t know the perfect answer for that. Personally, for me, I’m just going to strive to be the best leader, best player – I need to be better for the team and I’m kind of looking at myself in the mirror and I think every guy in that locker room will continue to do that. I don’t know if different work or whatever it is, but I mean, obviously something needs to be different. We’ve got to do things a little differently and that starts on our side of the ball. We’ve got to do a lot more and be more successful.”

Kendrick Bourne talked about the team not working hard enough. Think about that. The organization that made the phrase “Do your job” is not working hard.

“I don’t know, man. I keep saying we have to work harder,” Bourne told reporters. “I just feel like we need more effort, we need more effort. I’m not speaking of anybody. It just feels like we need to want it more, just the energy out there. We need more energy.”

Unfortunately, this what the Patriots have become a team. A team that used to out scheme and out work other teams is now a lackluster operation that has gotten blown out the last two weeks. When you lose your last two games by a combined score of 72-3, you have a lot of problems. This is the NFL. The talent gap is not that wide. 

Fixing this situation in-season is virtually impossible. The Patriots are what they look like right now. A listless team that is lacking talent and intestinal fortitude. Belichick cannot get enough good players in right now to fix what is happening and I am not sure he can get the guys on this roster to play harder. They are what they are. Mediocre at best. 

It is only October 9th but the season might already be over.