What Would it Take to Make the Rest of the Patriots Season a Success?

If you still had some small amount of hope left in you after the Patriots put up was probably one of their Top 10 least competitive games since 2001 that they'd make still somehow found a way to sneak past the bouncer and make it into the playoffs, good for you. I admire your optimism. There's a reason that one of the greatest films ever produced has a fictional point that can be summed up with the simple, universal truth that, "Hope is a good thing." Because it is.

In fact, that's a concept as old as fiction itself. The Greek myth of Pandora was that, when she opened her self-titled box, the troubles of the world came flying out to plague our existence. All except one. She was able to slam the lid down on the worst one of all. The one where we would be damned by knowing our fate. The fact we don't know is what gives us hope and drives us to endure all the other ills. 

That said, whatever glimmer of hope you're holding onto probably should've died late last night when Justin Tucker's kick was good. 

In order for that one chance in 50 to kick in, the Patriots would not only have to win out, the Browns would have to lose their last three, either Indy or Tennessee would have to get swept as well, and the Ravens and Miami would have to lose two of their remaining three and Las Vegas would have to lose one more. That's a lot of tumblers that would have to click into place in order for that safe door to open. 

So with that, I'm looking for other short term goals. In no way, shape or form can a season that doesn't produce playoff wins be considered a "success." Our standards aren't about to fall so low so fast that we can go from "They lost the Super Bowl, this year was a disaster" to "They were above average, so that's good news" in the span of just three years. I'm not saying we should be like those kids back in the day who got a full academic ride to go to MIT, got the first "B" of their lives and then pitched themselves off the roof of the building, either. The reality we've never had to confront until now is that 8-8 or 9-7 seasons happen to the best of teams. Never forget that in between a Wild Card berth and a trip to the Super Bowl, Bill Parcells' Patriots put up a 6-10 wet fart of a year. And used the mess of it to fertilize the next season's conference champs. 

I'm in no mood to start thinking about a rebuild, free agency or the draft. Not yet, anyway. What I am interested in how the next three games can be used to build the next Patriots team that can proudly take its place among the greats of the Dynasty Era and hold its head high in their mighty company. And the things I'd like to see accomplished between now and January 3rd are, in no particular order:

Give the rookies and second year defenders all the snaps you can. Someone posted a stat that said when Chase Winovich has played more than half the downs, the Patriots are 6-2. When he's played fewer than 50%, they're 0-4. Now that's sort of a false correlation because he's a pass rush specialist so there's more demand for his skill set when you're behind or getting pummeled on the ground like last week when he saw just 24 snaps. The same with Josh Uche, who only had 16. But now, let's see if they're every down players. Kyle Dugger's trajectory has been heading that direction since he first saw the field midseason. Let's keep it that way. We know he can tackle. I'd like to see him iso'd on every opponent's No. 1 tight end and prove he can handle the responsibility the next time they face Travis Kelce or Eric Ebron. Afernee Jennings has had an up and down season primarily as Will LB. Now is the time to find out if he can be an asset on passing downs as an off the ball coverage linebacker or an A-gap blitzer in the Dont'a Hightower role. What is there to lose? 

Salvage N'Keal Harry. Harry's completion percentage is 59.2%. If you think that's not good, you're correct. Curtis Samuel's is 87.1%, and he's got more than twice as many receptions. Feed him. Or at least try to. You're favorite receiver can be "the one who's open" when your top priority is victory. That's not the case here. Job One right now is trying to get something out of what has been a devalued asset. Like the househunter's shows trying put sweat equity into distressed asset, it's time to do work on this fixer upper. Besides, Harry was never expected to be the kind of wideout who runs himself open with his elusive speed. He's supposed to be a tough, physical, Hines Ward type who outmuscles you for the ball. Now is the perfect time to see if he can do that, and I don't care if he averages five yards a catch. Just give him 20 catches so he can finally have a 100-yard game like all the other kids in his draft class. 

Play the rookie tight ends. And I'm not talking about having them block. Though that's part of it. We know Damien Harris is a good running back. And I have faith in Sony Michel as a complementary change of pace guy. I'd like to see if they can be consistently productive as the lone back in a 12-personnel two tight end package. Besides, I think Jakob Johnson is just adequate. More of a lead blocker who'll screen a defender off or angle him away from the ball, rather than drive a battering ram into the heart of the defense the way Jimmy Neckroll would. But to me that's secondary to getting Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene involved in the passing game. In a year full of unpleasant surprises, nothing can come close to the fact that the two tight ends you drafted in the third round have two targets and one reception between them. And were not being activated most of the year in favor of the immortal Ryan Izzo (no offense). I can't imagine that the plan all along was to give them each a redshirt year like Harris had last season. But the time for that nonsense has long since passed. The two tight end Joker offense was one of the most innovative and effect schemes this team has run on either side of the ball in the Dynasty Era (before SOMEBODY got all murdery, that is). I want to see it brought back in some manner. Beginning this week at Miami. And if you're going to try to get Harry and the tight ends involved, here's the final thing I'd like to see.

Get Jarrett Stidham a start. This is not to say that now that we're down to a 2% chance of salvaging the season I want Cam Newton benched. That's scapegoating. He hasn't been anywhere close to where he needs to be in the passing game. That's self-evident. But it's also his team. Benching him would be counterproductive given he's been the leader of this squad since Day 1, he's worked his ass off and they've played hard for him. It'd leave a bad taste given all the team has asked him to do and all the punishment he's taken, while he's making slightly more than Joe Cardona is to long snap. A change now would put both Newton and Stidham in a bad situation. But one game? That Week 17 game at home against the Jets? Assuming there's nothing on the line, that's a perfectly legitimate talent evaluation game. Treat it like the final preseason game. At the very least, give Newton the start fully in the knowledge that he'll take the first possession or two, and then it's time to see what the new guy can do with the starters. Best case scenario is, you win and Stidham gets some much needed experience. Worst case scenario, you lose, costing the Jets Trevor Lawrence. So either way you win.