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Tonight is simply the next stop on Patriots Futility Tour

By Tom King - Staff Writer | Dec 7, 2023

Is tonight’s game the next stop on the Bill Belichick Farewell Tour?

It certainly seems that way. Belichick isn’t helping himself in the court of public opinion with his postgame press conferences, but he could care less about that. He wants wins. But this should be the next stop on the Patriots Top Three Draft Pick Tour

The record-setting depths the offense has reached, and the fact it was a unit that was in dire need of repair after last season ended, will likely seal the deal for both that and a change at the football top of the organization. The only question is how and when the end arrives as he returns to the sight of some of his biggest triumphs, including two AFC title games.

What we’re seeing all over the NFL is how simply critical the quarterback position is. The Steelers now have to rest their hopes on Mitch Trubisky, exiled by the Bears after he was supposed to be their future, and who lost his job to a below average Kenny Pickett. Plus the Steelers fired their offensive coordinator.

Meanwhile, the Patriots have gone in four years from Tom Brady to Bailey Zappe. Mike Tomlin is surviving this and has gotten his team to seven wins. Belichick likely won’t survive it, the franchise nearing the depths of the late Rod Rust’s season of 1990 (1-15), especially if they lose out. Which you want them to, Patriot fans, to get that second or third draft pick, the true quarterback of the future, and go from there.

Meanwhile, we dipped below mediocrity at 3-4 last week, so we need to coach it better, pick it better:

STEELERS 17, PATRIOTS 6

Will they score any touchdowns? No. But Trubisky can be a functional quarterback the more he plays, especially when he moves around. Plus what do you think T.J. Watt will do to that Patriots line?

TEXANS 24, JETS 7

Have you heard the ridiculous evens of the week for the Jets? Zach Wilson not wanting to be reinserted into the starting lineup after being benched? And now he’s back starting?Jets coach Robert Saleh texting back and forth with a longtime Jet fan/radio host? Imagine if Bill Belichick and Mac Jones did that here? Imagine how we thought this game would be before the start of the season.

CHIEFS 20, BILLS 17

Think of where we thought this final score would be before the season started. The Bills offense is back on track, KC’s is stumbling, but the Chiefs will win this at home and the Bills take the next step toward not making the playoffs. They need this one, but may not get it.

COWBOYS 27, EAGLES 24

Did we overrate the Eagles? Not really, but the Cowboys seem to be unbeatable at home. Philly is going through what the Niners did earlier in the year. Another Dak Attack in what should be a terrific Sunday Night game.

NINERS 24, SEAHAWS 13

San Francisco is back. Many feel the Niners are the best team in the NFC, while the Seahawks continue their fade possibly out of the playoffs.

RAVENS 27, RAMS 17

The Rams are making a playoff push, but the Ravens are making a Super Bowl push. They need a decisive win at home over a .500 team, and Lamar Jackson should be able to slice and dice his way through a porous Rams defense.

RAIDERS 17, VIKINGS 13

Antonio Pierce gets his Raiders into tough mode and they win an ugly one on the Strip. The Josh Dobbs magic has evaporated, much to the chagrin of very capable Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell.

LAST WEEK: 3-4.

SEASON: 58-33

Tom King may be reached at tking@nashuatelegraph.com. Also, follow King on Twitter (@Telegraph_TomK).

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