Tom Brady isn’t walking through that door.
The Patriots’ descent continued Sunday with the franchise’s worst home loss of the Bill Belichick era, a 34-0 trouncing by the Saints in Foxborough.
One week after he was pulled in a 38-3 loss in Dallas — the worst overall loss for the franchise in Belichick’s 24 seasons as New England’s head coach — quarterback Mac Jones was benched for a second straight game.
The third-year quarterback has zero touchdown passes and four interceptions in the two blowout losses as the Pats fell to 1-4 for the first time since 2000.
Jones was replaced by backup Bailey Zappe with the Saints leading 31-0 early in the fourth quarter.
He had thrown his third pick-six of the season in the opening period, a 27-yard return by Tyrann Mathieu.
Asked after the game if Jones will remain the starting quarterback next week against the Raiders, Belichick replied, “Yeah, there are a lot of problems. Certainly wasn’t all him.”
Mac Jones on the bench during the Patriots’ loss to the Saints on Oct. 8, 2023. AP
Bill Belichick on the sideline during the Patriots’ loss to the Saints on Oct. 8, 2023. APStill, the game marked only the second time the Patriots have been shut out at home under Belichick and the first since a 16-0 loss to the Bills in October 2016.
They haven’t scored a touchdown since the first half in their 15-10 win over the Jets in Week 3.
Asked about the offense’s slow starts this season, Jones said, “Really just not being ready to go, I guess.”
