The New England Patriots, a team steeped in tradition, are doing something unexpected—leaving everyone scratching their heads. A canceled team meeting, mounting frustrations, and cryptic responses have fans buzzing about what’s next for this faltering franchise.

The Patriots surprised everyone by canceling their scheduled team meeting and player media conferences after a frustrating 30-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Mark Daniels broke the news on Twitter. “Patriots players will not have a team meeting today, therefore we won’t be scheduling any video conferences this afternoon.” 

Daniels followed up with more context, adding, “This isn’t typical and usually happens after a win—a ‘victory Monday.’ It’s strange to see players given a day off—not just after a loss—but also considering the bye week wasn’t too long ago.” With only three wins on the season and a bye week fresh in the rearview mirror, why would the team take another breather? Questions loom, and so do criticisms of leadership.

This sudden day off comes on the heels of yet another disheartening performance. All from the Patriots’ offense! Rookie quarterback Drake Maye‘s got his undeniable potential. Yet, he is trapped in a system that doesn’t know what to do with him. The numbers paint a bleak picture! After all, the team gained just 166 yards through the first three quarters. And went 0-for-7 on third-down conversions, scoring a single touchdown before garbage time.

Maye, clearly frustrated, didn’t hold back after the game. “It wears on you, for sure. It’s frustrating. A long flight back and you can’t do anything else but just think about the game,” he said. He admitted to obsessing over ways he could have made a difference. 

Mayo’s playcalling criticized: Learning curve or leadership crisis?

If the canceled meeting wasn’t enough, head coach Jerod Mayo has found himself in the hot seat for his handling of the game—and the press. The spotlight fell on him during a critical sequence in the third quarter when the Patriots had third-and-one at the Cardinals’ four-yard line. Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt dialed up two consecutive runs that were stuffed, leading to a turnover on downs.

Asked why the team didn’t leverage Maye’s mobility or arm strength in that situation, Mayo’s response was blunt “You said it. I didn’t.” This comment, which seemed to throw Van Pelt under the bus, sent waves through the media. The backlash prompted Mayo to backtrack the next day, calling his response defensive and claiming he didn’t mean anything by it.

Still, the damage was done. As USA Today noted, “2024 is a lost year, a separation that’s found the post-Belichick harvest to be mostly chaff.” Mayo, a first-year head coach, is learning on the job. But his lack of polish in handling both the game plan and the media is starting to wear thin. Frustration is understandable, especially with a season this rough, but leadership under fire is about composure—and that’s something Mayo has yet to master.

Meanwhile, Drake Maye’s frustrations continue to bubble under the surface. His postgame remarks suggest a quarterback who is desperate for improvement, both in himself and the team around him. But the Patriots’ current roster is ill-equipped to make the most of his talents. Maye is trying to stay focused, saying, “All I can do is go back to the drawing board and work on getting better.”  

The Patriots are not just losing games. They’re losing confidence! A canceled meeting? A flustered head coach? And a rookie quarterback left to shoulder the burden? They all paint a picture of a franchise searching for its identity!