This isn’t an ordinary season finale for the New England Patriots on Sunday.
They’ll be standing across from their AFC East division rivals, the New York Jets, in a game that looks meaningless on paper. It’s a battle of two bad football teams with Bailey Zappe and Trevor Siemian being spotlighted at the quarterback positions.
That isn’t a matchup that’s going to exactly turn heads in a grand finale. But the importance of this game isn’t necessarily weighed in the matchup itself. There are multiple major storylines intertwined in this sendoff game for the Patriots.
One could even make an argument that this will be one of the most important games in franchise history.
Here are four reasons why:
Bill Belichick's last stand?
It’s surreal to think this could be the final time Bill Belichick stands on the sidelines as the Patriots’ head coach.
There have been numerous rumors and speculative arguments regarding his future with the team, and they all appear to be leaning towards owner Robert Kraft ultimately making the decision to fire Belichick and move things in a different direction.
There’s no doubt that this has been one of the worst seasons in the Belichick era, but it still doesn’t erase the fact that there would be no dynasty without the legendary coach. Belichick flipped the perception on the Patriots’ organization by drafting Tom Brady and creating the greatest dynasty in NFL history.
It’s tough seeing that end, especially when Belichick has given no indications that he’s done coaching. Like Brady, Patriots fans might have to watch Belichick take his talents and compete elsewhere.
Patriots could be saying goodbye to an all-time great
Not only could this be Bill Belichick’s last game as a Patriot, but the same could be said for special teams legend Matthew Slater.
The 38-year-old held off his retirement to return for another season, but given the current state of the Patriots, it’s hard to envision him doing that again in 2024. New England will be looking to rebuild their roster and shift their focus towards the future.
Slater had an incredible run as a 10-time Pro Bowler, eight-time All-Pro and three-time Super Bowl champion. He should wear a golden jacket at some point in his lifetime and get enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Belichick believes he has coached the greatest players of all time at all three phases with Tom Brady on offense, Lawrence Taylor on defense and Slater on special teams.
Outcome will decide future of the franchise
A loss for the Patriots would ensure that they get a top-three pick in the 2024 NFL draft, while a win could knock them back down the draft board.
For a team that desperately needs a quarterback, losing to the Jets on Sunday would actually benefit them most. Granted, the players on the field aren’t going to tank, and neither is Bill Belichick when this could potentially be his last game as a Patriot.
A win could potentially take the team out of the running for top-tier quarterback prospects, like Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels.
That could create a situation where the Patriots could either reach for a second-tier quarterback and hope he blossoms into a franchise talent, or they could keep Bailey Zappe and Mac Jones for another season, while shifting their focus to other positions of need.
An opportunity to draft a top quarterback prospect doesn’t come around often. This is a situation that could potentially impact the team for years to come.
A complete structural shift could be coming
Regardless of whether Bill Belichick stays or goes, the Patriots could be looking at a complete structural shift for the franchise. Belichick has worn multiple hats within the organization as the coach and general manager.
The Patriots could look to separate those two jobs and finally hire an actual general manager to work in conjunction with the coach.
There have been obvious problems with some of the personnel decisions made by Belichick over the years. Those decisions are a big reason why the offense has floundered. The team hasn’t prioritized the skilled positions, most notably at receiver, and they’ve also dropped the ball with the offensive line talent.
Belichick’s Duct Tape approach in 2023 with Riley Reiff, Calvin Anderson, Vederian Lowe and Conor McDermott is proof of those issues. It’s time for a systematic change for the Patriots, and it might finally come after Sunday’s game against the Jets.
