Don’t cry, New England Patriot fans. Their head coach, their lousy quarterbacks and Sunday’s opponent, the New York Giants, all combined to do your Patriots a favor.

In losing, you really won.

Of course you all know what we’re talking about. Sure, the Patriots are now an abysmal 2-9, depths not seen for quite some time, not even in Bill Belichick’s 5-11 first Patriot head coaching season in 2000. But in losing 10-7 Sunday the Patriots are in line for one of the top three picks in next April’s NFL Draft, more than a game ahead of the now 4-8 Giants who have a bye next week. Lose next Sunday at Gillette to the Chargers and you’ll be in even better shape.

So kicker Chad Ryland did you a favor by missing that 35-yarder that most NFL kickers boot with ease. Even more than just the end result, he saved all of us from having to watch 10 more game clock minutes (overtime) of abysmal football.

They say that MetLife Stadium is a lousy place for fans and players alike. The football played there this past holiday weekend was right on par with that. Anyone catch the awful Jet performance vs. the Dolphins on Friday that featured a Jet Hail Mary returned for a pick six?

Sunday’s clash in the rain set football back a few decades. Neither Belichick nor his Jints counterpart Brian Daboll would allow their subpar quarterbacks heave the ball downfield; thus the passes to the side, few quick slants, and as you saw the Patriots best offense was when they ran the ball as the Giants didn’t have Dexter Lawrence (hamstring) to plug the middle of their defensive line.

If we didn’t know better, we’d say Belichick was doing his best all week and yesterday to tank. He had Jones and Bailey Zappe split the first team practice reps though Jones probably got a few more and started, and sure enough he threw two interceptions, including one under pressure that set up the Giants only score. And all Zappe did when he came in for the second half was throw a pick that set up the game-winning field goal.

Belichick then wouldn’t let him take any shots downfield at the end zone to try to win the game before Ryland – a fourth round draft pick – missed his kick.

“I told everybody to be ready to go,” Belichick said. “I think they both (Jones and Zappe) deserved to play.”

What is this, high school? It sounds like Londonderry’s Jimmy Lauzon, who had four QBs play in games much of the season.

But tanking isn’t in Belichick’s vocabulary. First, he likely won’t be here next season, so what’s the point. Second, he’s chasing Don Shula’s win record, but with this wasted year he might need to give that up. And third, the guy coaches to win, period.

Zappe was asked whether he felt the team was going for a TD on that final drive.

“I mean, the main part about that is to come out with the field goal,” he said. “I mean, that’s your main goal, it’s 10-7, worst case scenario is kick a field goal. If you can score (a TD), great. Our main objective was to go down there and score points and not be able to give them the ball back…”

What difference would that have made, the Giants weren’t going to be able to do anything with it.

Who cares who starts next Sunday at Gillette? Both are horrible. What a contrast watching the Bills and Eagles do battle in the late game, huh?

But fear not, Patriot fans. You’re team actually won yesterday. The big question now is who is going to be making that pick come next spring.

Tom King may be reached at @Telegraph_TomK on twitter, or tking@nashuatelegraph.com

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