5 Patriots Offseason Moves That Are Already Flops at Midway Point of Season

The New England Patriots currently have the worst record in the entire AFC at 2-7. This season has been miserable for the Patriots for the most part, and a lot of that has to do with the fact that this team simply didn't push the right buttons throughout the 2023 offseason.

The Patriots made a variety of moves to try and get back into contention in the AFC East. They struggled last season, but nobody figured Bill Belichick was just going to tolerate being a losing team now despite all of his success and a trophy case full of Lombardis to show for the last 20-plus years.

Which moves have proven to be particularly bad for the New England Patriots so far in 2023? Let's take a look.

1. Hiring Bill O'Brien as offensive coordinator

After basically not having a legitimate offensive coordinator in 2022, the New England Patriots brought Bill O'Brien back into the fold early on in the 2023 offseason as both the team's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. That move was supposed to help revive Mac Jones's once-promising career, get the offense back on track, and provide some legitimacy to that side of the ball.

Well, midway through the 2023 season, you tell me how it's going.

• Scoring: 31st (15.0 points per game)
• Yards: 27th
• Passing: 21st
• Rushing: 28th
• 3rd down: 27th

Now, to give credit where it's due, the Patriots are somehow 4th in the NFL in red zone efficiency, but apparently the problem is getting inside the 20 for this team. To be 31st in scoring while also being 4th in red zone efficiency reveals remarkable offensive ineptitude. The Patriots are averaging just 25.2 yards per drive, 28th in the league this year.