Patriots bottom out with embarrassing 34-0 home loss to Saints
The 2023 New England Patriots may have just hit rock-bottom. They are now 1-4 on the season after a 34-0 drubbing at the hands of the New Orleans Saints at Gillette Stadium.
Unfortunately for Mac Jones, the Saints’ first points came from their defense. As Jones faced a swarm of pass-rushers, the quarterback tried to get rid of the ball and it came out fluttering. Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu was right there to grab the interception, and he also made a clean lane for himself to the end zone, pulling New Orleans out to a 7-0 lead.
.@SAINTS PICK 6! 🚨 @Mathieu_Era with the steal!
— NFL (@NFL) October 8, 2023
📺: #NOvsNE on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/LxW25sxPWA pic.twitter.com/ASK40UJKxL
Jones came back out at quarterback for the next possession after his pick-six, and managed to connect with rookie wide receiver Demario Douglas for a 24-yard catch that got the Patriots into field goal range. But rookie kicker Chad Ryland missed wide left, keeping the score at 7-0.
The Saints would respond to that in a big way. Quarterback Derek Carr completed passes of 26 and 25 yards to Michael Thomas and Rashid Shaheed to set up first-and-goal. Alvin Kamara would punch it in three plays later to make it 14-0 Saints.
Things would only go bad to worse from there. After another Patriots three-and-out, plus a weak punt by rookie Bryce Baringer, the Saints went 59 yards in five plays for another touchdown to make it 21-0. Carr hit an open Chris Olave in the back of the end zone for the Saints’ second offensive score.
First TD of the season for @chrisolave_ 🕺
— NFL (@NFL) October 8, 2023
📺: #NOvsNE on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/LxW25sxPWA pic.twitter.com/qvgzsqYOrq
Jones and the offense got the ball to start the second half … and they ended up giving it away. Rhamondre Stevenson botched a backward pitch from Jones for a fumble, which the Saints’ Cameron Jordan recovered. The defense was able to hold the Saints to a field goal attempt on the ensuing possession, but that still made it 24-0.
Amazingly, it just kept getting worse for the Patriots. The offense turned the ball over one more time, a Jones “interception” that was really a bad bobble by Ty Montgomery. The Saints would cash in on the pick, as tight end Foster Moreau powered his way through would-be tacklers for a touchdown, making it 31-0.
After that, with the game clearly out of hand, the Patriots opted for Bailey Zappe at quarterback. Of course, it didn’t get any better for them offensively.
At 1-4 on the season, including 0-3 at home, the Patriots are going to face some serious questions about the future of the team and organization, both in the short-term and long-term. Mac Jones and the offense are surely facing a lot of criticism, but it’s going to be an especially rough week for Bill Belichick.
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Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Check out all of Matt’s content here.
Mazz's Tiers: NFL Head Coach Rankings
Tier 1
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – NOVEMBER 27: Head coach Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams and head coach Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs shake hands before a game at Arrowhead Stadium on November 27, 2022 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jason Hanna/Getty Images)
Andy Reid – Kansas City Chiefs
John Harbaugh – Baltimore Ravens
Sean McVay – Los Angeles Rams
Kyle Shanahan – San Francisco 49ers
Tier 2
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 01: Head coach Sean McDermott of the Buffalo Bills watches game action against the Miami Dolphins at Highmark Stadium on October 01, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
Sean McDermott – Buffalo Bills
Zac Taylor – Cincinnati Bengals
Matt LaFleur – Green Bay Packers
DeMeco Ryans – Houston Texans
Shane Steichen – Indianapolis Colts
Mike McDaniel – Miami Dolphins
Mike Tomlin – Pittsburgh Steelers
Pete Carroll – Seattle Seahawks
Mike Vrabel – Tennessee Titans
Tier 3
FOXBOROUGH, MA – NOVEMBER 04: Head coach Mike McCarthy of the Green Bay Packers shakes hands with head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots after the Patriots defeated the Packers 31-17 at Gillette Stadium on November 4, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
Jonathan Gannon – Arizona Cardinals
Arthur Smith – Atlanta Falcons
Mike McCarthy – Dallas Cowboys
Dan Campbell – Detroit Lions
Doug Pedersen – Jacksonville Jaguars
Kevin O’Connell – Minnesota Vikings
Brian Daboll – New York Giants
Nick Sirianni – Philadelphia Eagles
Ron Rivers – Washington Commanders
Bill Belichick (the current version of him) – New England Patriots
Tier 4
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – SEPTEMBER 24: Head coach Frank Reich of the Carolina Panthers reacts during the fourth quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on September 24, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Frank Reich – Carolina Panthers
Kevin Stefanski – Cleveland Browns
Robert Saleh – New York Jets
Todd Bowles – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tier 5
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 07: Head coach Josh McDaniels of the Las Vegas Raiders looks on against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half of the game at Allegiant Stadium on January 07, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Getty Images)
Matt Eberflus – Chicago Bears
Sean Payton (the current version of him) – Denver Broncos
Josh McDaniels – Las Vegas Raiders
Brandon Staley – Los Angeles Chargers
Dennis Allen – New Orleans Saints
