Mike Giardi: Bill Belichick’s future in focus if Patriots lose critical sunday showdown against Jets
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 17: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots looks on during the second quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on September 17, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
During his weekly hour-long segment with Toucher & Rich, Boston Sports Journal’s Mike Giardi was asked about the potential consequences if the New England Patriots were to lose on Sunday. Giardi suggests that the main story would revolve around Bill Belichick’s future as the head coach. He mentions that if the Patriots were to start the season with an 0-3 record, it would be a significant concern, and Robert Kraft might not be pleased. Regardless of the outcome, Mike doesn’t believe Belichick would be fired mid-season and acknowledges that the pressure on Belichick might increase, even though he previously didn’t think Belichick was on the hot seat. Additionally, Giardi suggests that if the Patriots struggle early in the season, they might need to consider their quarterback situation, potentially raising questions about Mac Jones as the starting quarterback.
![FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 17: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots walks on the field prior to a game against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on September 17, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)](https://985thesportshub.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/88/2023/09/GettyImages-1687507218-copy-1024x774.jpg)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 17: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots walks on the field prior to a game against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on September 17, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
TRANSCRIPT:
Rich Shertenlieb: What’s the story if the Patriots lose on Sunday (against the Jets)?
Mike Giardi: Well, I would imagine the story is about Bill Belichick. How much longer does he get to start? Three would be based on the way I think they felt that I know the way they felt about their team. They felt a lot better about their team than the rest of us did based on how they felt about the AFC. I think they felt like there were some opportunities there in the division in particular. So you start 0-3. I mean, that’s unimaginable to them, I think. And I’m sure that the owner would not be pleased to be in that spot. And then like, look, I don’t think he’s getting there, pulling the plug on Bill Belichick in-season. But I think all of a sudden your timeline there sped up because I’m one who didn’t believe that he was on the hot seat. I don’t. I didn’t see that. I know people have talked about it. I thought, you know, essentially if they don’t, if the season didn’t tank and he goes 6-11 or 5-12, that Bill would be back again next year if he wanted to be. But if you start on three, maybe the conversation starts to intensify. And to me, that would be the big story. And then the other part of that is whether it’s fair or not. Mac, are you back in the market for a quarterback? If you start in three, you start those conversations.
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Lack of offense leaves Patriots short again: 8 takeaways from Sunday night's loss to the Dolphins
In a game that featured days of New England Patriots’ past, with throwback uniforms and an old-school field design, the current Patriots team played a game that looked all too familiar. After finding themselves in an early multi-score hole the Patriots made things interesting late only to have the comeback come up short in a 24-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium Sunday night.
The game script could be sold as a near shot-for-shot remake of last week’s season-opening loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. It was similar problems – turnovers, offensive line play – that plagued the offense early while the defense had a bend-don’t-break start. Down two scores in the latter part of the game the Patriots were able to put a couple of scoring drives on the board, and the defense forced a big turnover to give them a chance to win the game, but they were still a drive short.
READ MORE:
—Ups & Downs from Week 2
—Was Demario Douglas benched?
—Chad Johnson talks Patriots past and present
Both games even game down to bizarre fourth-down plays that ended up being reviewed – unfavorably for the Patriots. Last week it was Kayshon Boutte’s non-toe drag, this week is was a lateral play that had some thinking back to last year’s Disaster in the Desert.
On a 4th & 4 from the Miami 33-yard line with exactly a minute to go and no timeouts remaining, Mac Jones threw the ball in the flat to tight end Mike Gesicki. It was clear Gesicki wasn’t going to get the line to gain, so he lateraled the ball backwards to guard Cole Strange. Strange made a good effort to get the extra yards, and at first glance appeared to have extended the drive. The play was then reviewed though, with Strange ultimately being ruled short. That gave possession back to Miami, and the Dolphins proceeded to kneel out the final minute of the game.
Yes, that’s a tough way to lose a game. At the same time, if winning or losing comes down to the left guard needing to pick up hard-earned yardage on the ground as the third player of the play to touch the ball, things have probably gone wrong well before it got to that point.
So, what really went wrong for the Patriots in Week 2? Let’s take a look in this week’s takeaways…
Nick Gemelli, the wizard behind the scenes at Toucher & Hardy and a maestro on 985thesportshub.com, kicked off his radio escapade back in 2007 as an intern for Toucher & Rich on WBCN. After navigating through WFNX and the Boston Phoenix, he made a triumphant return to the show in 2016. Hailing from Marshfield but currently holding it down in Tewksbury, Nick’s radio journey is as dynamic as his Twitter feed. Nick writes about what happens on the Toucher & Hardy Show and Boston area lifestyle content.