The Patriots have been really bad this season.
Crowd shouts out in response: “How bad are they?”
Entering Week 14, the other 31 NFL teams are a perfect 51-0 when allowing 10 or fewer points in a single game. The Patriots are 1-3.
So yeah, it’s bad!
At 2-10, Bill Belichick’s team owns the worst record in the AFC and the second-lowest mark in the league heading into Week 14. The offense in particular has been putrid, with Mac Jones losing the starting job thanks to his plethora of turnovers and head-scratching mistakes. As a result, New England is on pace to have the lowest points per game average since 2011.
The last three games have been particularly painful. The Patriots became the first team in NFL history to drop three consecutive contests in which the defense allowed 10 or fewer points. New England’s defensive unit has been stout as of late, yet the results have been a 10-6 loss to the Colts, a 10-7 defeat to the Giants and a 6-0 flop against the Chargers, thanks to the ineptitude of the offense.
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At this rate, the Patriots are going to finish the season with a historically bad offense. Here is where their low-scoring offense ranks among the league’s worst ever.
Worst scoring offense in NFL history
Entering Week 14, the Patriots have scored 12.3 points per game, the 28th-worst mark in league history. At that rate, New England is on pace to be the NFL’s worst scoring offense since the 2011 Rams (12.1).
Belichick’s coalition has a ways to go to become the lowest-scoring offense. In NFL history, there have only been six teams to average less than 10 points per game, and it has not been accomplished since the 1992 Seahawks averaged 8.8 PPG.
Here is a look at the lowest-scoring offenses in NFL history.
| Team | Season | Points per Game |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1977 | 7.4 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 1974 | 7.9 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 1992 | 8.8 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1976 | 8.9 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 1991 | 8.9 |
| Green Bay Packers | 1977 | 9.6 |
| Cleveland Browns | 2000 | 10.1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 1998 | 10.1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 1972 | 10.4 |
Patriots offensive stats 2023
New England’s offense has been dragged down due to the passing game. The rushing unit of Rhamondre Stevenson and Ezekiel Elliott has not been bad this year, however, the ground game has been hampered by the team’s inability to air the ball out.
New England is averaging 186.8 passing yards per game, ranked 23rd in the league. The rushing attack averages 103.7, which is 21st in the NFL. The two combined give the Patriots a yards per game average of 290.4, which is the fifth-lowest rate this season. New England’s average of 12.3 points per game is dead last.
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The main issue has been turnovers, mainly interceptions. The 14 picks thrown by New England quarterbacks are tied for the second-most in the league. Mac Jones’ 12 interceptions alone are the third-most out of any QB this year. Only Washington’s Sam Howell and Buffalo’s Josh Allen have thrown more.
| Category | Stat | 2023 NFL rank |
| Yards per game | 290.4 | 28th |
| Passing yards per game | 186.8 | 23rd |
| Rushing yards per game | 103.7 | 21st |
| Points per game | 12.3 | 32nd |
| Interceptions | 14 | T-31st |
| Fumbles | 6 | T-11th |
| Turnovers | 20 | T-24th |
| Touchdowns | 16 | 31st |
