The Chargers dismantled the Patriots 40-7 in Foxborough, leaving fans with a sinking feeling that the dynasty days are long gone. If this wasn’t a flashing neon sign of a franchise in freefall, then what is? But, Pats head coach Jerod Mayo didn’t shy away from yet another ‘blame game‘ post-game media presser.

Addressing the boos and his shaky future, he said: “I’m always under pressure. It’s been that way for a long time.” But there’s a reason for the heat, Mayo. The fans aren’t buying your throwing-under-the-bus tactics over every other loss.

“There’s nothing good to take away from this game,” he admitted, but only at the expense of criticizing your own players, like rookie Drake Maye, in front of everyone. The team’s lack of consistency, coupled with his comments, left many feeling like he threw the entire squad under the bus.

‘Under pressure‘ may sum up his situation, but ‘under the bus‘ seems to define how he’s handling his players after yet another embarrassing loss. And the latter has not been following the Patriots’ way whatsoever. If anything, that must stop.

To add to the situation, the team’s rookie QB got injured in the first quarter itself. Thankfully, he returned in the second quarter, even though it didn’t make much of a difference in the game’s outcome.

So, Mayo might be in the wrong here as it was a ‘good thing to take from this game’. Even the rookie said: “Just kind of got my bell rung… Guess the [NFL concussion] spotter called down, and I passed the test. I feel good, I still feel good.” Nonetheless, no matter the outside chatter, the Pats are still in their ride-or-die phase.

Surprisingly, Jerod Mayo’s players have got his back

Foxborough’s not feeling the love. As chants of “Fire Mayo” echoed through Gillette Stadium during Saturday’s 7-40 blowout loss to the Chargers, Jerod Mayo found himself in the hot seat—literally and figuratively.

The Patriots are sitting at 3-13, riding a six-game losing streak, and fans are questioning if Robert Kraft picked the right guy to replace Bill Belichick. “Look, you hear those things,” Mayo admitted, addressing the boos, “but we’ve got to play better.”

Here’s the thing: Mayo’s confidence isn’t shaken. He’s sticking by his coordinators, even as the defense, once a Top 10 unit, has slid into ‘bottom of the barrel’ territory under DeMarcus Covington. Meanwhile, the offense under Alex Van Pelt? It’s been less of a scoring machine and more of a stalled engine—barely hitting 20 points most weeks. But Mayo isn’t giving up. “I have nothing but confidence in the coaching staff,” he said.

What about the players? Rookie QB Drake Maye isn’t throwing in the towel. “They’re still coaching hard since week 1,” he said, emphasizing their effort. Veteran Kendrick Bourne chimed in, urging fans to be patient, calling Mayo a “man-first” leader. But in a sport where fans have the voice as loud as they are called the 12th-man, you can’t get away from throwing under your players time and again.

Change is coming, though. Whether it’s Mayo’s staff or roster moves, Patriots fans won’t wait forever.