The New England Patriots have been on a rocky road this season. Currently, at 3-9, they are sitting right at the bottom of the AFC East. It sure is a far cry from their pre-2020 record with 17 playoff appearances and 6 Super Bowl wins. But, instead of looking at the past glory (or, in the current season’s case, disgrace), it’s best to look toward the future. At least, that’s what HC Jerod Mayo thinks.

He knows the next 5 games are crucial for the team. Not just to have a slim chance at the playoffs, but also to understand which players can prove themselves “going forward.” At this point in the season, most teams who are a lost cause are playing to better their next season. Or, in some teams’ cases, the players are performing to seal their future with their respective teams. And so is the case for the Patriots.

After their massive 15-34 loss to the Dolphins in Week 12, the team is now preparing for Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts (5-7). And HC Mayo is certain the next five games are crucial for the team as well as some on the roster. “We need a guy like Layden Robinson to show what he can do,” said Mayo. “We need a guy like Cole Strange before the end of the season to see what he can do. You can use Caedan [Wallace] in that same bucket. We need to see what the receivers can do and what they’re going to look like going forward,” he continued.

Winning the games is definitely on the HC’s mind. But he insists knowing the players’ capabilities is essential before the end of the season. “That’s the hard part for me. You want to win right now, but at the same time, I think it would be a disservice to go to the end of the season and not know exactly what we have,” Mayo emphasized. All the 3 offensive linemen that the HC mentioned are having a disappointing season, and QB Maye’s turnover rate has not helped.

A closer look under Jerod Mayo’s microscope

Mayo filled big shoes when he came in as HC this season. And he knew his first season might not give him the results he expected. With only a few games left, the Patriots can forget about the playoffs and focus on their future.

More importantly, as the HC noted, certain players could try to show what they’re capable of. Layden Robinson, a rookie guard, for example, hasn’t had the best season. With 6 starts out of 8 games played, his pressure rate stands at 11.5%. The rookie has also been benched in Week 9 due to poor performance.

Then comes Cole Strange, the former first-round pick. He has not been able to play this season due to his patellar tendon injury from 2023. While he has been trying to get back on the field, it’s been uncertain as to when he will join his team. Wallace, too, has been on IR ever since he hurt his ankle in Week 4. Prior to the injury, he started only one game at left tackle against the Jets.

Meanwhile, their offense has been underwhelming, ranking 31st in points per game and 28th in total yards, leaving a lot of room for improvement. Add to that, while Maye has displayed his moments of brilliance, he is struggling with turnovers. As of Week 12, he has had a total of nine turnovers in six starts. Out of those nine, there were six interceptions and three fumbles lost.

And Jerod Mayo is definitely noticing this. “We need to win this football game…no turnovers and we’ll have a good chance to win,” wise words from the HC to follow for the team.