SPLAT! New England Patriots Again Non-Competitive in Blowout Loss to New Orleans Saints

Quarterback Mac Jones was benched for a second consecutive week as the reeling New England Patriots lost another blowout, this time 34-0 to the New Orleans Saints.

It's come to this for the New England Patriots: The franchise that won six Super Bowls is being derisively mocked for gaining six yards.

Last week's embarrassing loss to the Dallas Cowboys turned out to be just an appetizer, as the free-falling Patriots hit a new rock bottom in Sunday's 34-0 loss to the New Orleans Saints. The 35-point defeat to Dallas was the worst of Bill Belichick's Hall-of-Fame career. This 34-point shellacking is his worst home loss.

The loss was almost the worst at home in franchise history, falling just shy of a 45-10 defeat to the Buffalo Bills so long ago (1970) that they were the Boston Patriots.

Fans at Gillette Stadium that once spoiled by championship trophies flooded the Pats with boos and, after one first down, even a sarcastic cheer of a simple "achievement."

Led by more follies - and yet another Pick 6 - by quarterback Mac Jones, the Patriots fell behind 21-0 to a previously struggling Saints team that hadn't scored 20 points all season. It marks the first time the Pats have trailed by 20+ points in consecutive games since 1996.

In another hideous first half, New England allowed a defensive touchdown, missed a 48-yard field goal, shanked a 26-yard punt and had to burn a timeout after realizing it had players on the field. In consecutive weeks it trailed games 28-3 and 21-0 at halftime. In the last two games it has been outscored 72-3, surrendering 69 unanswered points.

The third quarter was no better. A week after failing to convert a 4th down on the "Tush Push" quarterback sneak, the Pats lined up in the formation on a 3rd down against New Orleans. But instead of a Jones sneak, he attempted to pitch the ball. These days, however, Jones can't even complete the simplest of "passes." He delivered the ball high and behind running back Rhamondre Stevenson, leading to a fumble recovered by the Saints and an ensuing field goal that pushed the margin to 24-0.

Patriots' QB Mac Jones threw a Pick 6 and was benched for the second consecutive week

Jones, who was benched for the second consecutive week, was pressured in the pocket on the game's second series and his wobbly pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown by New Orleans' Tyrann Mathieu for a 7-0 lead. It's Jones' third Pick 6 of the season. At the time, the offense had scored six touchdowns this season, but surrendered four.

Jones was again off-target, completing only 12 of 22 for 110 yards. But he had little to no help as his team fell to 1-4. The Pats couldn't run the ball (45 yards) and veteran offensive linemen David Andrews and Trent Brown both allowed sacks. Near the end of the third quarter, Jones delivered a well-thrown pass to Ty Montgomery, only to have the receiver hit and bobble the ball into a Saints interception.

New England managed only eight first downs.

In his last two starts, Jones has thrown for just 260 yards with four interceptions, two  Pick 6s and a fumble returned for a touchdown. Him getting yanked in favor of second-year backup Bailey Zappe hardly provided a spark, as on his first series a 3rd-down overthrow of a wide-pen Hunter Henry led to a three-and-out punt.

The Patriots fell to 26-30 since Tom Brady left, and have been held under 30 points in 21 consecutive games started by Jones. New England has scored only 55 points, worst through five games since Belichick's first season in Foxboro in 2000.

Only three percent of NFL teams starting 1-4 have made the playoffs.

If Belichick's coaching seat was warm before Sunday, it's now searing hot.

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