Bill Belichick Kevin R. Wexler / USA TODAY NETWORK

NFL's flex schedule decision illustrates just how pathetic the Patriots are

By Eric Smithling | Last updated 11/30/23

The NFL did fans a huge favor on Thursday by taking the Patriots off of "Monday Night Football" in Week 15, underlining how miserable this season has been for New England.

The Patriots are so bad that the NFL punted on an opportunity to put Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in primetime.

The first-ever Monday Night Football flex: the NFL is flexing Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce off of Monday Night Football in Week 15, replacing the Dec. 18 Chiefs at Patriots game with Eagles at Seahawks.

Eagles now will have three consecutive standalone games from Weeks… pic.twitter.com/8l9iV4MUNw
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 30, 2023

The defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs are in the chase for the No. 1 seed in the AFC, and combined with Mahomes's and tight end Travis Kelce's popularity, it is a bit of a surprise that the NFL would forgo an opportunity to promote them.

While the Chiefs are good for business, the Patriots are bad enough to outweigh any good that would have come from a Kansas City primetime appearance.

Quarterback Mac Jones has been benched four times this season. The most interesting question for the organization is whether Robert Kraft will axe head coach Bill Belichick, the team's most valuable asset, during the offseason.

New England (2-9) ranks 31st in scoring offense (13.5 points per game) and doesn't do anything well on that side of the ball. The Patriots rank 23rd in passing, 23rd in rushing and have only scored more than 20 points once.

No one should have to watch them in primetime, not even if the best quarterback in football is on the other side.

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