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The Patriots have struggled offensively the past the past three seasons. Since 2022, the Patriots have averaged a combined 17.4 points per game under Matt Patricia, Bill O’Brien and Alex Van Pelt. That’s terrible. The Patriots were in the bottom five in scoring in the NFL each of those years.
It is why the return of Josh McDaniels for a third tour of duty as offensive coordinator is so important. The last time McDaniels coordinated a Patriots offense was 2021. The Patriots averaged 27.2 points per game and had a top ten offense in the league. McDaniels did that by the way with a rookie quarterback in Mac Jones. He is a proven play caller who gets results and the right guy to turn this offense around.
Fast forward to 2025 and McDaniels has a more talented quarterback to work with in Drake Maye and a reinforced skill group that now features Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins, Rhamondre Stevenson, Tre’veyon Henderson, Kyle Williams, Kendrick Bourne, Demario Douglas and tight end Hunter Henry. You can argue this is one of the three best skill groups McDaniels has ever worked with in New England.
The Patriots have plenty of talent at the skill positions. The question is, can Maye get them the football? Maye’s development and ability to succeed comes down to McDaniels ability to help Maye fit the system. McDaniels will add elements to the offense that will play to Maye’s strengths but in the end, Maye will still be running the same system Tom Brady ran ten years ago. If the pass protection is solid, Maye should thrive in the system.
Regardless of what McDaniels runs, the expectation is that the Patriots will be better on offense. No more excuses! Fans don’t want to hear about adjusting to a new scheme and growing pains. They want to see tangible progress from Maye and an offense that scores points.
The Patriots have to be better offensively this season. There is no other way around it. McDaniels was brought back to fix it. Now he has to prove that he is still the same guy who called plays for three Super Bowl winning teams. If that pedigree and experience can help ignite an offensive resurgence, McDaniels will cement his legacy as arguably the greatest offensive coordinator in franchise history and one of the best offensive coordinators in league history.
No pressure Josh.