Ah, it’s the New England Patriots’ bye week, and who else to hear from than newest media mogul Bill Belichick on the state of the Patriots.

Or should we say the state he left them in?

When asked about his former team – which has the same 3-10 record his Patriots did at this time last year – Belichick, a candidate for the North Carolina head job, gave his answer.

“Yeah, just haven’t done enough to win very many games on any level,” he said. “They’ve had trouble on defense. One of the last ranked teams on offense, if not the bottom ranked. Missed some key field goals and some kicking plays as well. So I’d say all three areas of the game just haven’t been good enough to win.”

Oh, and then when asked if he felt for his former players, or has left all that behind, he said “No, there are a lot of people thee that you know, very close to. A lot of them I brought there, especially defensively. Almost all those players are re-signed and most all the offensive skill players, too. So it’s hard to see ’em going through that type of season. There’s nothing I can do about it…”

Oh please. There was nothing Belichick could have done about it last year, either, seeing as he put the team in that situation. It’s amazing.

The reason we bring this up is the Patriots, with this weekend off, can try to set the tone for next season, but really, do you want them to win that much? The one thing Belichick did right last year was lose enough so the Patriots got a top three pick and were able to draft a quality quarterback in Drake Maye.

This week Patriots coach Jerod Mayo, whose just about every move except what he has for breakfast is under sometimes ridiculous and sometimes warranted scrutiny, hinted the time spent is going to be looking ahead to the distant future (as in next season) instead of the immediate future.

“We’re still focusing on the season, obviously, but you also have to look out the front windshield of things that are going to come up on us fast,” he said, “and those are some of the decisions or conversations that I’ll have during the week.”

Meaning who stays, who goes, and what the free agent priorities are. They had, as of the end of October, a projected salary cap space for a whopping $132.8 million for 2025.

That is where you turn that 2-5 record in close games to 6-1, 7-0. The Patriots should not be that far off, but there are some things they need to do. First is maybe win just one more of their last four games – two vs. Buffalo, one vs. the Chargers (home) and the other at Arizona. We figure 1-3 at best.

That done, they can finish most likely in the top five, where they can draft an impact left tackle for the offensive line. We think LSU’s Will Campbell would be a perfect fit to protect Drake Maye.

Then they need to grab a receiver, but part of the problem they have this year is the two they grabbed last April, Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker are busts.

They need to add more offensive line depth, keeping just David Andrews, if he returns healthy, and Michael Onwenu among the regulars. Pick a third. Add the rest through later rounds and perhaps free agency. We maintain that last year’s free agent crop of offensive linemen was thin at best.

But we all know, this is the really the year when the Patriots should, in Mayo’s words, “burn some cash.” They have plenty to burn. They need defensive line help – they have gone in the opposite direction vs. the run – and better linebackers and a solid No. 2 corner. Plus safety depth.

Many argue that personnel VP Eliot Wolf struck out on a lot of things in the off season, and they’re right. The counter here to that is, in some circumstances, there wasn’t much out there. Last year’s free agent market wasn’t worth burning much cash.

The coaching must improve. Mayo is always under the gun, some criticisms are warranted, some aren’t. What he needs most is some more experience on the staff; the Patriots should have brought in a veteran former head coach if one was available to be Mayo’s right-hand man, either on the stage or behind the curtain. But clearly the team needs better defensive coaching. The one game you go to was the second Miami game as proof of that, because the DeMarcus Covington & Co. did not put their players in the best position to succeed.

Today you can all relax, watch a game without screaming at the TV, do the Christmas shopping, etc. You earned your bye.

The Patriots haven’t earned theirs, which is why they have had a ton of work to do now and beyond. So Bill Belichick doesn’t feel so bad for his former players. Go Tar Heels.

Meanwhile, we won’t feel bad for ourselves after a mediocre 4-3 week last week. Here’s our attempt at recovery, with no Patriots game to pick:

DOLPHINS 27, JETS 17

Miami should be better than 5-7, but they still can’t figure out how to play in the cold. Meanwhile, the Jets should be better than 3-9, but they can’t figure out how to play, period – and haven’t figured out how to play in Miami. They’re 0 for their last 8 in the Sunshine Capital.

CHARGERS 23, CHIEFS 21

Upset special. Kansas City’s offense is struggling, and the Chiefs were barely able to pull out a win in the last 30 seconds earlier in L.A. This time, they won’t be able to even at home, but it’ll be a good Sunday Nighter.

BROWNS 30, STEELERS 23

Another upset as we’re going for it this week. The Steelers, when they’re big favorites, don’t play well, even at home. Just a feeling that Jameis Winston will come through if he can keep throwing the ball to the other team.

CARDINALS 24, SEAHAWKS 14

Arizona, which had been playing so well, took a step back last week while Seattle managed to pull one out at the Jets. And Seattle beat the Cards 16-6 a month ago in Seattle. Not this time, Kyle Murray will lead this offense to way more than six points.

VIKINGS 31, FALCONS 17

Falcons are in a funk, early season darling Kirk Cousins has lost his mojo, and is is pretty close to getting pulled in favor of Michael Penix. Meanwhile, Sam Darnold seems to be back on track. Gotta go with Vikes at home.

BILLS 24, RAMS 17

A pretty good one, don’t you think? Just the opposite of the conditions the Bills had last Sunday night in beating the Niners as this one’s in L.A.’s indoor home. Even better for Josh Allen & Co.

BENGALS 40, COWBOYS 24

Oh, this looked so good when it was on the schedule, but who would have thunk that the two teams would have nine wins between them? The Bengals have just one more win that the Patriots, for crying out loud, mainly because their defense stinks. But Dallas stinks too. Joe Burrow has to beat Cooper Rush, wouldn’t you think?

LAST WEEK: 4-3

SEASON: 60-31

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