The New England Patriots headed into Buffalo with a bit of hope, ready to face the Bills at Highmark Stadium. For a while, it looked like the Patriots might be just able to pull it off. They came out firing, holding onto a strong lead at halftime, and fans were starting to believe. But as typical as it is in NFL fashion, the game took a wild turn. The Bills flipped the script in the second half, leaving the Patriots to watch another tough loss, dropping their record to 3-12 on the season. A rollercoaster ride, to say the least. But what Josh Allen said next really caught everyone off guard.

After the game, Bills quarterback MVP-caliber Josh Allen gave a pretty honest take on the Patriots’ performance. He mentioned how the Patriots were “undercutting some of our crossing routes” and “getting their hands on” the receivers, which messed with Buffalo’s rhythm. But what really stood out was when Allen said, “That’s a better team than their record shows.” It was his way of giving the Patriots some credit for their tough play, even though their season record doesn’t reflect it. It’s like an eagle has it’s wings, but can’t fly higher than a tree.

This totally fits with what Robert Kraft‘s been saying about Jerod Mayo, especially since it’s his first season as head coach. Despite the rough patch this year. Kraft’s been telling people he’s all in on Mayo, giving him the time and tools he needs to figure things out. It’s clear Kraft’s not just looking for a quick fix, he’s all about building something that’ll last. As Insider Ian Rapoport put it, “The Krafts want to keep Jerod Mayo. They believe he is the leader for their organization for their future. They knew it would be a multi-year process to get this thing right.” This makes sense, doesn’t it? Because Kraft kept his trust in Mayo.

Josh Allen’s praise of the Patriots, despite their tough record, shows they’ve got more potential than it seems. With the right leadership and adjustments, they could turn things around. Kraft’s support for Mayo backs this up, showing they see the team’s talent. Players like Drake Maye (almost 2,000 yards), Matt Judon (3.5 sacks), and Rhamondre Stevenson (1,100 yards, 5 TDs) prove there is still some promise. With a few tweaks, the Patriots could bounce back.

But things are not going fine with the team. Understandably so! It’s not just the season that slipped away from them, things have felt awkward on the locker room front as well.

Mayo’s locker room drama

Even though the Patriots have had a rough season. Jerod Mayo isn’t backing down from his leadership style.’Like this guy is rigid!’ When quarterback Drake Maye publicly defended him, Mayo wasn’t exactly thrilled. He appreciated the support, but made it clear that team issues should stay within the locker room. “I appreciate Drake’s loyalty, but I’m handling things my way. There are issues in the locker room that need to be addressed, and I’ll do that,” Mayo said, showing that he’s not about airing dirty laundry to the public.

This reaction shows Mayo’s no-nonsense approach. He is the kind of guy who is all about keeping things tight-knit inside the team and making sure any problems get worked out behind closed doors. It’s clear that Mayo’s focusing on unity, even if it means dealing with tension head-on. However, this season has also seen the HC make some questionable statements post losses, shifting the blame on players, and that lack of accountability has surely made the situation frustrating for fans.

It’s a tough spot for Mayo, being a first-year head coach, with growing pains both on the field and off. But with Kraft backing him up and Mayo sticking to his guns. It’s pretty clear that the Patriots are in this for the long haul, working through the bumps as they build a future around their ‘new‘ coach.