The 2022 season came to an end for the Patriots yesterday, as their loss to the Bills gave the team an 8-9 record and kept them out of the postseason. That represents a disappointing finish to the campaign, and has invited speculation about changes being made on the sidelines. 
One constant which will remain heading into 2023 will be head coach Bill Belichick. The 70-year-old announced on Monday that he will stay on as the Patriots’ bench boss for what will be his 24th season at the helm. He made it clear, however, that a thorough review of the organization will commence, adding that “we’ll look at everything.”
While Belichick’s announcement comes as little surprise, it also included little in the way of details concerning the future of the team’s offensive coaching staff. To replace longtime offensive coordinator (and current Raiders head coach) Josh McDaniels, the Patriots elected to split his responsibilities between ex-Pats staffers Matt Patricia and Joe Judge. The marked lack of experience on the offensive side of the ball for both of them led to plenty of scrutiny leading into, and during, the season.
New England finished the year in the bottom half of the league on several offensive fronts, averaging 331 yards and 21.4 points per game. Second-year quarterback Mac Jones took a step back in a number of categories, leading to something of a QB controversy when he was briefly replaced by rookie Bailey Zappe due to injury earlier in the season. Most importantly, the unit’s struggles have led to increasing calls for a new, more experienced OC to be brought in.
When asked the future of Patricia and Judge in the organization (or at least in their current capacities), Belichick added, via Michael Hurley of CBS Boston, “We’ll evaluate everything that we’ve done – from me on down to everybody else – and evaluate things and make improvements where we feel like we can. Again, there were a lot of positive things over the course of the year in all areas that we can build on, but in the end, it wasn’t what we want it to be or need it to be.”
Alabama OC – and fellow Patriots alum – Bill O’Brien has been connected to a potential vacancy for the same role in New England. Interest between he and the Patriots, depending on which direction the team goes with respect to Patricia and Judge, will be worth monitoring in the offseason. In any case, the status quo will be in place for at least one more year with respect to the team’s leader on the sidelines.
Honestly an impressive season given the big weird self-sabotage of having Patricia run the offense. The defense often looked great.
Patricia *and* Joe Judge, who is potentially as clueless as Patricia. Quite an accomplishment to be at least near .500.
Patricia was also coordinating and coaching the line, combining two jobs that even qualified people don’t.
Defense was good.
Need a QB and imaginative Offensive Coordinator.
Once Arizona fires Cliff Kingsbury… offer him OC Job.
I just said the same thing of his article I guess I should’ve looked here first I’m he could become the QB coach anyone is better then Judge
Kingsbury likes his independence and could never be subservient to BB, who has his hands in everything
Idk he kinda stayed away when Josh was OC the past few yrs and he clearly didn’t try to this year
Was this the year that Bill the Head Coach sabotaged Bill the GM, instead of the usual vice versa? Staff disarray/inexperience and no commitment to his starting QB, etc., etc.
Hopefully, the patsies can hire Matt Canada as OC soon.
I’d be interested to hear the take from Patriots fans… What would the reaction have been to Belichick being fired?
Here’s my take…. Kraft should be handcuffed and escorted out of the building if he fired BB.
So you’re saying it would not be a happy ending for Kraft.
Firm up the o-line, try to get a playmaker WR, and for Christ-sakes…hire an actual offensive coordinator. Could have been 11-6 or better with just a little bit of help.
I approve of this message.
As a Patriots fan, there was some good but a lot of bad in our offense, i think if we get a decent OC, move patricia back to DC we will be just fine
Time to pencil in Patricia’s firing.
Nice play on words there.
The goat among head coaches returns! Excellent
Without Brady, he’s mediocre, especially as a GM.
Was he “GM” when they drafted a nobody Tom Brady? I feel like both guys made each other.
Note to yinzers…Bill Belichick has had losing seasons in the NFL, Mike Tomlin has not.
Does BB’s kid still work for the Pats?
Belichick had a 19 year streak of winning seasons. 19 years ago, Tomlin was a defensive backs coach.
Two of Bill’s sons work for the Patriots
Barring health issues, Belichick can be expected to keep coaching until he passes Don Shula for most wins by an NFL coach.
Heck yes, another delightfully mediocre season on tap for the Pats in 2023/2024. With every passing year it becomes more and more apparent that’s Brady made Billy.
I wonder if Hoyer would be a good offensive coach.