ESPN Expert Rips New England Patriots Offense: 'Absolutely Awful!'

ESPN's Dan Orlovsky didn't hold back when posting about the New England Patriots offense after another horrible showing in Week 12's loss to the New York Giants.

The New England Patriots’ run of futility continued last Sunday when the offense once again looked lifeless. A missed field goal in the game’s final seconds sealed their fate as losers of four consecutive games and drop their record to 2-9.

New England just continues to redefine rock bottom, losing 10-7 to a bad New York Giants team led by quarterback Tommy Devito. Patriots quarterbacks Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe combined for fewer yards than the feel-good story on the opposing sideline.

The old saying goes, “If you have two quarterbacks, you don’t have one.” New England doesn’t have much surrounding them, either.

Backup quarterback Bailey Zappe hands the ball off to running back Rhamondre Stevenson :: © Kevin R. Wexler / USA TODAY NETWORK

There isn’t one person or unit to blame for the offense’s struggles. Obviously, the quarterback play has been bad. The run game, especially early in the season, wasn’t much better. The Patriots' receivers are either hurt or falling below expectations. It’s clear New England has a talent issue, but they shouldn’t be getting outcoached. With head coach Bill Belichick supervising, that’s inexcusable.

ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky had a bone to pick with the Patriots’ offense on Tuesday, especially offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien. Having an actual qualified offensive coordinator was supposed to re-establish Jones’ status as a capable starting quarterback. That has simply not been the case in 2023.

“The Patriots offensive tape is absolutely awful,” Orlovsky tweeted. “Poor designs, poor timing, poor spacing, poor details and execution, poor rhythm, guys doing different things consistently, very little ‘why’ to doing things.”

Unsurprisingly, each of those are ingredients in a recipe that doesn’t produce much success.

New England had two more interceptions than touchdowns on Sunday, wasting a rather encouraging performance from running backs Rhamondre Stevenson (21 rushes for 98 yards and a score) and Ezekiel Elliott (nine rushes for 46 yards).

On the season, the Patriots rank 30th in expected points added per play, ahead of only the Giants and the New York Jets. They have scored 20+ points just twice this season.

Fixing this operation isn’t a one-man job, but fans can take solace in the loss making a top-three pick even more likely. Quarterbacks Caleb Williams and Drake Maye headline the class, but Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is the type of receiver prospect that even Belichick can’t miss on.

Until then, there isn’t much to be optimistic about. Maybe someone other than Jones gets the start under center or actually provides a spark if/when the starter gets pulled. But with frequent protection woes and little in the form of a downfield passing attack, explosive plays are a rarity. New England’s longest gain of the day went for 19 yards.

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“It’s about as bad as it can get at [the] NFL level,” Orlovsky concluded.

Perhaps a get-right game is in store on Sunday when the Patriots host the Los Angeles Chargers. Points may be necessary against one of the league’s elite quarterbacks, but with the Chargers’ proclivity for embarrassing themselves and a porous pass defense, there may be light at the end of the tunnel, at least for a few quarters.

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