Oh, how the mighty have fallen.
For two decades, the New England Patriots were the NFL's gold standard. They won a whopping six Super Bowls and played in three others. They are the only team in NFL history that has navigated a 16-game regular season without a loss.
But that was then and this is now. Quarterback Tom Brady is gone. So is head coach Bill Belichick. And the team left behind is a mess.
To be fair, new head coach Jerod Mayo's roster has some talent on defense in the likes of edge-rusher Matt Judon, defensive tackle Davon Godchaux and safety Kyle Dugger.
Godchaux told Cameron Wolfe of NFL.com that if the Patriots can get the offense squared away, New England can get right back in the mix.
"Once we get that offense clicking, we will be back in playoff mode and hopefully further," he said. "Always will be a top defense if not the best defense."
However, that defense wasn't exactly a top one a year ago. The Patriots were a solid seventh in yards allowed, but just a so-so 15th in points allowed. Their front seven isn't what it once was, especially with Judon coming back from injury.
New England's offense? Nightmare fuel. The team drafted North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye third overall, but it's expected that veteran journeyman Jacoby Brissett will open the season under center. Rhamondre Stevenson is a capable running back, but the team's No. 1 wide receiver is second-year pro Demario Douglas.
Behind him is, unquestionably, the weakest assemblage of pass-catching talent in the NFL. New England's offensive line is ranked as the third-worst in the league, with left tackle Chukwuma Okorafor a particular concern.
Simply put, there's no clear path to this team scoring points. Whether it's Brissett or Maye at quarterback, they are being set up to fail.
And it's fixing to be a long year in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
