Jerod Mayo and the New England Patriots are gearing up for a road game against the Miami Dolphins tomorrow.
Holding a 3-8 record, the Patriots aim to pull off an unexpected victory in Week 12 NFL action.
The Dolphins, despite their 4-6 record, are mostly healthy and striving to reignite their playoff hopes. To do so, they must capitalize on opportunities against teams like New England.
For the Patriots, the situation offers a silver lining. While they want to compete and win, losses don’t necessarily hurt their long-term goals.
If the season ended today, New England would secure the No. 5 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and slipping higher in the draft order due to losses could benefit their rebuilding process.
Despite their efforts, the Patriots face grim expectations for this week’s matchup. Sayre Bedinger of NFL Spin Zone has listed New England as one of three teams “guaranteed to lose” this week.
“Drake Maye continues to show signs of improvement each week,” Bedinger commented. “The Patriots lack the surrounding talent to compete with a team like Miami.
Anything can happen in the NFL, but it’s unlikely New England keeps up with the Dolphins, who are fighting for a late-season playoff push.”
Bedinger’s assessment seems accurate. The Patriots have slim chances of securing a win this week.
However, their focus isn’t solely on winning; it’s also about developing younger players and laying the groundwork for a return to contention.
While losses can be frustrating for fans, they align with New England’s long-term goals. A higher draft pick, potentially even the No. 1 overall, could allow them to target elite prospects like Travis Hunter.
Even without the top pick, the 2025 draft class offers significant talent to accelerate their rebuild.
