Then: Chicago Cardinals, Now: New England Patriots - Offense Sinking to 85-Year Low

Bill Belichick, Mac Jones, Bailey Zappe and the New England Patriots are producing offensive doldrums - and defensive domination - not seen in the NFL since 1938.

The New England Patriots are playing the worst offensive football in their 64-year history. In doing so, Bill Belichick and his revolving, repulsive quarterbacks are setting the sport back almost a century - to the era of leather helmets without facemasks.

Welcome to 2023, a bizarre universe where a Patriots team that for two decades was one of the best all-time in the league has deteriorated into one of the worst in the history of the sport.

Thanks to an anemic offense "led" by Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe, the Patriots have lost their last three games despite the defense allowing only 10, 10 and six points. The last time the NFL witnessed such ineptitude, TIME magazine's "Man of the Year" was ... Adolf Hitler.

It was 1938, a time when FDR was President, Clark Gable was Hollywood's leading man, the NBA was 11 years from being born, and American staples like Superman and chocolate-chip cookies were being invented. In that year the winning time in the Boston Marathon was 2:35:34, almost 30 minutes slower than this year's champion.

The NFL 85 years ago featured 11-game schedules played by 10 teams, none west of the Mississippi River. On a given Sunday at settings such as Wrigley Field, the Polo Grounds and Yankee Stadium, fans could watch the Brooklyn Dodgers take on the Cleveland Rams or Pittsburgh Pirates. Green Bay Packers' star and future Hall of Famer Don Hutson led the league with just 548 receiving yards. The best player was the champion New York Giants' center Mel Hein, still the only offensive lineman to win NFL MVP.

The 2023 Patriots are the NFL's worst offensive team since the 1938 Chicago Cardinals / Timm Hamm Productions

Professional football was still 15 years from players wearing facemasks, and three decades from the first "Super Bowl."

It was in 1938 when the Chicago Bears infamously beat the Packers, 2-0. And when the Chicago Cardinals lost four straight games despite holding opponents to 10 points or fewer.

This history lesson has been brought you by the 2023 Patriots - complete with "Steel Curtain" defense and Papier-Mâché offense - who have lost their last three games by scores of 10-6, 10-7 and 6-0. The Pats are 0-3 when allowing 10 points or less; the rest of the NFL is 54-0.

How age-old awful is coordinator Bill O'Brien's unit? In the last three games the Pats have 13 points, 17 punts and five interceptions. The offense has scored a touchdown only once in its last 36 possessions.

For the first time in franchise history, they have been shut out twice at home twice in the same season. And in last Sunday's dreadful 6-0 loss to the Chargers, they didn't run a single play inside L.A.'s 30-yard line.

The Chargers, meanwhile, entered that game with the NFL's 8th-ranked offense, featuring stars at quarterback (Justin Herbert), running back (Austin Ekeler) and receiver (Keenan Allen). L.A. managed only two field goals, after "drives" of 27 and seven yards.

"Held a top offense to six points," defensive lineman Davon Godchaux said after the loss that dropped the Pats to 2-10. "I have nothing to hang my head on. I'm proud of our defense. Next week, we have to shut them out. Goose egg."

Defenseless: Patriots' Awful Offense Negates Inspired Play

Camouflaged by the historically horrible offense is a defense - without best pass-rusher Matthew Judon and top cornerback Christian Gonzalez - playing at an elite level. Since Week 9 the Patriots have surrendered only 46 points, but are 0-4. In that same span the San Francisco 49ers have allowed 49, but are 4-0.

“We have got to do more," said safety Jabrill Peppers. "We have to start scoring on defense.”

In this disastrous season, Patriots fans aren't seeing many points or wins. But they are witnessing history repeat itself.

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