For the New England Patriots, it could not have been much worse of a season. During this past offseason, owner Robert Kraft issued a letter to ticketholders promising team improvement and a return to the playoffs. Amidst rumors of firing Bill Belichick, benching Mac Jones, and a host of injuries, the offense has been a hard watch week in and week out. Some fans are even applauding the progress of being on route to a top two pick in the upcoming draft with the hopes that a talented quarterback will bring some much needed life to the offensive side of the ball.
New England Patriots Offensive Shortcomings
Really the offense as a unit has not played well all season. The receivers are failing to separate, inopportune dropped passes, Mac Jones being too careless with the ball, and there’s porous offensive line play. The running back group has been the best aspect of the Patriots all year long.
The young player Rhamondre Stevenson out of Oklahoma has the ability to play through contact and get gains, even after defenders get to him in the backfield. With his status likely being out for the rest of the season with a high ankle sprain, Ezekiel Elliott will see an increased role with the remaining games. Unfortunately for Pats fans, the glimpses of big plays even from busted blocking have been too far and in between, just as it looked possible that the running back room had turned a corner.
For the New England Patriots, it is no longer about the long expired goal of making the playoffs, it is now about pride and have an offensive display that resembles an NFL game.
New England Patriots Self Assessment
The defense has held teams at bay, and as put this New England Patriots team in positions to win multiple times throughout the year. The offense has let the other side of the ball down, only managing 12.3 points per game this season, with an abysmal 13 total points combined in their last three games.
After the 6-0 loss against the Chargers Ezekiel Elliott had the following reaction:
I mean, defense holds them to six points. And for us not to be able to go out there and put anything on the board, it’s tough.
But he did not stop there, going on to say:
I feel bad for those guys on the defensive side of the ball. They’ve been playing such good defense week after week. I mean, we got to figure out how to make more plays on offense and give them some help.
In reality he is saying what anyone watching this New England Patriots team has been thinking all year. The offense is putting the defense in too many bad spots on the field, and forcing them to play extended minutes by not being able to even pick up a single first down on so many drives.
New England Patriots Zeke On A Mission
With an upcoming game against a defensive led Steelers, many are looking for a throwback Zeke performance to jump-start the offense. With Bailey Zappe starting, and a possibly Malik Cunningham QB sighting around the corner, Elliott really needs to be not just the focal point, but the dominant aspect of this offense.
Against a Steelers team that is starting Mitch Trubisky led squad, this may be the best and only chance for an offensive pulse to be found. While the Steelers defense is good at keeping people out of the end zone, they do allow a below average 4.3 yards per carry. With two offenses that will likely get multiple chances from the play of the defenses, this will be the matchup to look for.
With the 2024 season being looked forward to for Patriots fans already, if Zeke is able to be a source of hope in the remaining games, he could be brought back next year as one of the few bright spots to take away from a disappointing year.