The New England Patriots’ Week 14 bye happens just at the right time for reflection on the season. With the team officially eliminated from the playoffs, we can begin to set our sights on 2025.
The team will enter this offseason with a number of needs. The team has struggled at offensive tackle, with a number of additions for this season off the team or sidelined by injury. One of those additions, rookie Caedan Wallace, should be available at some point in the final stretch.
New England’s struggles at wide receiver continued, with no wideout surpassing 500 yards on the season thus far. Second-round pick Ja’Lynn Polk has been held to under 100 yards on the season, and fourth-round pick Javon Baker has yet to record a catch.
Defensively, the Patriots have also regressed, with the losses of Christian Barmore, Ja’Whaun Bentley, Joshua Uche, and Matt Judon exposing weaknesses with the team’s depth up front. The defensive tackles behind Davon Godchaux have struggled to find their footing, while the linebackers beside Jahlani Tavai have been unable to find success. Outside of Keion White, the Patriots have struggled to generate any pass rush.
Which of these needs should be the highest priority for the organization this offseason?
For the second time in four seasons, the Patriots have landed a Week 14 bye, the latest in the schedule. The team’s bye has fallen in Week 10 or later in each of the last four seasons.
Do you have a preference on where the team’s bye week should fall next season?
In addition to these questions, we continue our weekly confidence tracking poll.
Please sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys. Also make sure to check out FanDuel Sportsbook, the official sportsbook partner of SB Nation.