South Florida Stinker Seals New England Patriots' Trade Deadline Strategy?

The best part of the New England Patriots' Sunday slacking in Miami is that the team has an undoubted path forward, even if it's uncomfortable.

Will the real New England Patriots please stand up?

Those making that oddly specific wish found it granted on Sunday when the Patriots followed an unexpected victory over the Buffalo Bills with something completely far from different: a trip to South Florida brought no rest or relaxation but rather a macabre sense of relief. 

The 31-17 defeat to the Miami Dolphins was more or less what was expected from New England (2-6) this season in the idea that it was a loss with good intentions in mind, one packed with effort and grit but just not enough to compete with what's clearly a completed product. 

What's the good news? It's perhaps officially okay for Patriots fans to accept and embrace a rebuild.

Inspiring as last weekend's win over Buffalo was, there was a lingering sense of delusions of grandeur. Maybe Mac Jones was the answer at quarterback. Maybe there was a chance this group could make it work. Maybe it was worth keeping the veterans around.

It's hard to write the answers to those questions in pen with nine games left to play, but there's no denying it anymore: it's time to sell, it's time to start the painful process of rebuilding as soon as humanly possible. There's already a clock on one of the prime opportunities to get it done.

Kendrick Bourne (right) and the Patriots could only watch as Jalen Ramsey and the Dolphins pounded them into rebuilding submission / Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

The ultimate form of gridiron trick-or-treat appropriately lands on Halloween this year in the form of the NFL trade deadline. It should mark the official start of the Patriots' rebuild, as a chance for them to get something before it's too late. As the Patriots are forced into continued karmic payments for the bill of the last two decades, even the football gods seem to be working against them, as Kendrick Bourne joined Josh Uche on the injured list. 

But there are plenty of expiring contracts (Trent Brown, Mike Gesicki, Hunter Henry) that could net something, anything, as the franchise prepares to officially punch in on the rebuild clock. There's no use in arguing whether it should've been ticking earlier. All the world knows is that it's hear and it's probably going to get worse before it gets any better.

On paper, there's perhaps nothing wrong with a two-touchdown loss to a Miami group that has its sights fixated on not only AFC East glory but something wider as well. But the nature of Sunday's game shows just how far the Patriots are from reclaiming their conference crown. 

Every positive step forward for the Patriots felt like it came after three for Miami. New England seemed to politely decline any and all opportunities it was afforded. What's currently wearing the helmets of the Flying Elvis and the aura that has been created is clearly one that's not working or meshing. 

Hence, it's time for a chance. 

Granted, New England won't be able to solve all of its problems within the next 48 hours. But it's time to officially rip the Band-Aid off the wounds of the Boring 20s and get this team on the right track, at least start to sketch a blueprint of some rudimentary kind.

Sunday allowed them to do just that.

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