This season was always about development for the New England Patriots.
“We have to realize that we have to get better each and every day,” Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo said on Aug. 1. “Even when we go through the regular season, where we are Week 1 should not be where we are Week 8, and that’s the approach that we’re taking.”
With the Patriots on their Week 14 bye, it hasn’t played out like that.
Rookies (other than Drake Maye) have yet to truly contribute. Second-year players (other than Christian Gonzalez) have yet to take the vital second-year leap head coach Jerod Mayo has stressed.