This is for the glass-half-full legion of Patriots Nation. In other words, those not named Chris Long.
Yes, the New England Patriots are the worst team in the AFC at 2-7. Yes, they have the NFL's second-worst offense averaging a meager 15 points per game. And, yes, the Hall-of-Fame architect of their six Super Bowls - Bill Belichick - might be coaching his final game for the Pats Sunday morning in Germany.
Yes, it's bad. But, in a deeper dive, no, it's not that far off from being pretty good. Not good, as in during the dynasty days of winning 17 AFC East crowns in 20 years. But relatively good, as in a team hovering around .500.
The consecutive, epic blowout losses to the Dallas Cowboys (38-3) and New Orleans Saints (34-0) in early October notwithstanding, the Patriots have been competitive in their other seven games. They won two of those, including an upset of the Buffalo Bills. In four losses, they had the ball trailing by only one score in the final two minutes of the game.
Quarterback Mac Jones has regressed. The offensive line has been a dumpster fire since preseason. And season-ending injuries on both sides of the ball - leading receiver Kendrick Bourne, Pro Bowl pass-rusher Matthew Judon and rookie star cornerback Christian Gonzalez - long ago yanked 2023 into the ditch.
Still, the Patriots are creating chances. They're just woefully not converting them.
*Down 25-20 to the Eagles in Week 1, they drove to Philly's 20-yard line with :27 remaining before rookie receiver Kayshon Boutte's apparent fourth-down catch at the 8 was overturned by replay into a game-ending incompletion.
*Trailing the Dolphins 24-17 in Week 2, the Pats made it to Miami's 33 with 1:00 remaining. That's when a wild fourth-down attempt wound up in Mike Gesicki tossing a desperation lateral to offensive lineman Cole Strange, whose valiant run came up inches short of a first down at the 29.
*Behind the Las Vegas Raiders 19-17 with 2:23 remaining, New England needed to drive approximately 50 yards for a potential game-winning field goal. Instead, they went backward five yards in four plays before Jones was sacked for a game-clinching safety.
*Down 20-17 to the Commanders last weekend in Foxboro, the Pats were driving toward at least a game-tying field at Washington's 41-yard line with :30 remaining. Jones' pass over the middle, however, went through the hands of receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and turned into a game-clinching interception.
In the upset of the Bills Jones crisply drove the offense 75 yards in the final two minutes, hitting Gesicki with the game-winning touchdown with :12 remaining. But in total chances for a comeback win on a successful clutch drive, the quarterback is 1 for 5. Convert just half of those missed opportunities and suddenly New England is a respectable 4-5 instead of 2-7.
On five clutch fourth-quarter drives with a chance to tie or win in the last two minutes, Jones is a combined 19 of 27 for 175 yards, one touchdown, one interception and three costly sacks.
Maybe the glass isn't half-full after all.
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