Now that New England Patriots coach Jerod Mayo is set to embark on his first season in the NFL, it’s fair to ask the following question: How many games does he need to win for the 2024 season to be considered successful?
It won’t be easy sledding with the Patriots having one of the hardest schedules in the league.
The team opens the season against a returning Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals. Within the first six weeks, they’ll face four playoff teams in total, including the Bengals, San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins and Houston Texans.
From start to finish, the schedule is a marathon.
Granted, there are matchups against teams still trying to find their way, like the Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts and Arizona Cardinals. It’s also fair to say the Patriots are trying to find themselves in their own right.
They are trying to reestablish their offensive identity in a unit now being led by offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. At the very least, the Patriots will probably have an experienced quarterback under center to start the season with Jacoby Brissett primed to be the Week 1 starter.
To guarantee some wins in 2024, the Patriots are going to have to rely on their defense. The team ranked seventh in total defense last year. They will face four teams ranked in the top 10 in offense this season. The Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers all fit that distinction.
The New England defense has shown they can be a stabilizing force for the team in the past, but they must continue to prove it this year as well.
With all of those factors in play, it would be reasonable to say that Mayo and the Patriots need to win at least five games for the season to be considered a success. That would be one more win than the team had last season under former coach Bill Belichick.
It’s a tall task while juggling a rookie quarterback, rebuilding offense and a first-year head coach. But a five-win season would be a solid starting point for a Patriots team looking to reclaim its identity.
Anything less than that benchmark would not move the needle in terms of optimism about the team.