“This [rebuilding] isn’t a one-year thing.” Pats head coach Jerod Mayo said this ahead of the Jaguars’ game. But he also urged the fans to get behind the players and remain optimistic. However, after the horror show in week 7 that has left them with a 1-6 start this season, things do not seem to be getting any easier. And Bill Belichick’s ex-assistant took the opportunity to echo it loudly.

Michael Lombardi, never one to hold back, chimed in on X writing: “Why are the Patriots rebuilding and Washington winning when Washington was by far the worse team going into last season?” He didn’t stop there, adding, “Classic blame game,” calling out the heat Belichick is facing. This is now the longest losing streak since Robert Kraft bought the team in ‘94. Six straight Ls—things in Foxborough haven’t looked this bleak in decades. So, where do they go from here?

I mean, if we look at it from a larger perspective, Michael is not wrong. The fans and critics have their money on the Commanders having a slow start to the campaign. But forget slow—they are first in their division. Guess Colin Cowherd’s pre-season predictions are coming through when he said: “New coach, new OC, new quarterback, new owner. I think they use that energy and juice to catapult.” He touted them to be a surprise team, and boy, have they proven it so far.

So, what’s going wrong for Mayo’s New England? Currently, ‘everything’ seems to be just the perfect answer to that question. Nothing is sticking. See, the thing is, the Pats’ O-line has been among the worst in the league since the last two seasons. And the offense is doing everything to make sure the trend continues this season as well. But it’s the defense that has caused a worry or two among the fans.

Stopping the run has been their Achilles’ heel, and it showed again in Week 7 when the Jags piled up 171 rushing yards and two touchdowns. On the flip side, rookie QB Drake Maye had a solid showing, going 26-of-37 for 276 yards and two TDs. At least there’s some hope on offense. But hope alone won’t be enough to get through to the playoffs, and Jerod Mayo knows it as he expressed his frustrations.

Jerod Mayo’s under pressure

The Patriots couldn’t stop the Jaguars pacing onto a 32-16 victory in London. And who’s on the receiving end? Yeah, Jerod Mayo (of course). But the coach is also giving some to the players as well.

Standing behind the podium, during the post-game presser, a frustrated Mayo said: “We’re a soft football team across the board!” He didn’t sugarcoat it. “Being tough means running the ball, stopping the run, and covering kicks. We did none of those things today.” Ouch. And yeah, it’s back to the drawing board, as he put it, but how many more of these will we chalk up before things change?

This was an ugly one for New England. After a decent start, Jacksonville ran away with it, scoring 22 points in the second quarter alone, including a 96-yard punt return touchdown from Parker Washington. Tank Bigsby bulldozed his way for 118 yards and two TDs. Even though the Pats clawed back to make it 25-16 after a Drake Maye touchdown pass, the missed two-point conversion and Bigsby’s late TD sealed the deal.

Frustrations are stacking up like dominoes for Mayo. One bad decision from hereon, and the entire thing will crumble. After a promising win to open the season, the Pats have dropped six straight, with four blowouts along the way. The bright spot? Maye’s solid play with five TDs in two starts. But the defense has crumbled, giving up 73 points in the last two games. Not ideal. Can they bounce back against the Jets next week? Time’s ticking for Mayo and the Pats.