Is Bill Belichick’s job on the line when the New England Patriots take on the Indianapolis Colts in Germany on Sunday?
by Chad Jensen
The Indianapolis Colts are set to take on the New England Patriots in Germany at 9:30 am EST on Sunday morning.
Is Patriots’ head coach Bill Belichick coaching for his job when his 2-7 Patriots take on the Colts?
The question would have seemed absurd not too long ago, but it was asked by a Patriots reporter at his media availability this week.
“My focus is getting ready for the Colts,” said Belichick when asked if he had any assurances from ownership his job was safe.
Pressed if he felt he was coaching for his job this week against Indianapolis, Belichick deflected.
“I’m gonna control what I can control and get ready for the Colts,” Belichick answered.
How has it come to this for a head coach with six Super Bowl rings in New England?
This is Belichick’s fourth season since Tom Brady left for Tampa Bay. The Patriots enjoyed 19-straight winning seasons after Brady took over as full-time starter in 2001, including those six Super Bowls.
The Patriots went 7-9 the first season without Brady, 10-7 with a Wild Card appearance with rookie Mac Jones, 8-9 last season, and the Patriots are currently 2-7 having lost five of six.
New England didn’t have a losing record for nearly-two decades, and now they are staring at their third in the last four seasons.
The question of Belichick or Brady is starting to lean heavily towards the latter. While the Patriots demise can’t be tied entirely to the loss of arguably the greatest player of all time, there are real questions if the 71-year-old Belichick is up to the task of rebuilding the Patriots.
At 2-7 the Patriots have just a 2.9% chance of landing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft according to ESPN. However, they have a 46.9% of landing in the top five.
Playing in the gauntlet of the AFC East with games remaining in Buffalo and Pittsburgh and at home against the Chiefs, ESPN may be underestimating the Patriots’ chances of landing in the top five.
The top-two picks carry significantly more weight in the 2024 draft with quarterbacks Caleb Williams of USC and Drake Maye of UNC considered to be two of the best prospects in some time.
If the Patriots landed one of the two-young signal callers, would Belichick get the opportunity to mold him into a new version of Brady?
Time is against Belichick. The Patriots’ record is against Belichick.
While he may not be coaching for his job this week in Germany, it won’t be a surprise if the Patriots move on this offseason from one of the game’s most successful coaches.
The Colts are a 1.5-point favorite and have a 52.2% chance of winning according to ESPN Gamecast. Head coach Shane Steichen and his young Colts team would be happy to help give Belichick a shove out the door.
Originally posted on Horseshoe Huddle