Bill Simmons calls the Patriots the “worst coached team” in over 30 years

Patriots

“They hit all the hits every week — stupid penalties, drops, special teams mistakes, incredibly bad play calling.”

Bill Simmons is almost done with the 2024 Patriots.

After New England lost its sixth straight game in a 32-16 loss to the Jaguars on Sunday, the longtime Boston sportswriter and founder of The Ringer took the Patriots to task on social media. Most of his criticism was aimed at Jerod Mayo and the team's coaching staff.

“This is the worst coached Pats team since Rod Rust. They play all the shots every week – stupid penalties, drops, special teams mistakes, incredibly poor play calling,” Simmons wrote on X on Sunday. “Every week is worse than the last. You get what you pay for.”

For Patriots fans who didn't know Rod Rust, New England went 1-15 in his only season as New England coach in 1990. That's still the worst record in franchise history, although the 2024 Patriots could also be in the running for the record books.

New England is 1-6 so far this season, with Sunday's loss to a 5-1 Jaguars team considered one of the Patriots' even more winnable games.

Mayo called the Patriots a “soft” team after Sunday's loss, but walked back those comments Monday during his weekly radio appearance on WEEI.

When asked Sunday about struggling rookie wideout Ja'Lynn Polk, Mayo emphasized that New England “needs more” from the 2024 second-round pick. That comment also drew Simmons' ire online.

“Hey Mayo, we actually need more from you,” Simmons wrote. “Why does your D get worse every week? Did Polk jump offside on a PAT to score a 2-pointer? Did Polk give up a punt TD? Did Polk call all of those (expletive) run plays? You’re only good at outshining everyone else, including the previous coach.”

This is far from the first time Simmons has taken the Patriots to task this year amid a season of change in Foxborough.

During the offseason, it became apparent that the 2024 season would be painful for the Patriots. Not only have the Patriots failed to significantly improve their offensive line, the team has also targeted some top free agent targets like Calvin Ridley.

“I’m trying to figure out what the Patriots are doing. “Right now they have the most money to spend of any team in the league, but free agency is basically over,” Simmons lamented on YouTube in March, adding, “They are the lowest-spending team in recent memory 10 years.” And I guess my question is: Will it just be the Patriots until Bob Kraft dies? Simply super cheap.”

Based on Drake Maye's encouraging performance over the past two weeks, New England is optimistic about the future.

But much to the chagrin of Simmons and other Patriots fans, New England could still be a few years away from re-establishing themselves as a contender in the NFL landscape.

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Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.

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