This wasn’t the offense Bill Belichick envisioned. The New England Patriots coach tried — at times desperately — to build something brilliant. But by winter, the offense looked like a half-finished construction project.
Perhaps this was the version of Tom Brady that Belichick envisioned. The Patriots coach may have anticipated Brady’s struggles in 2019 as far back as 2017. Look at what Belichick did in the 2018 NFL Draft when he took running back Sony Michel and tackle Isaiah Wynn in the first round. Perhaps Belichick knew that as Brady declined physically, he would need run support and a solid blindside protector.
Fast forward to the 2019 offseason. Belichick tried to sign tight end Jared Cook, who wouldn’t commit to New England because Rob Gronkowski couldn’t make up his mind about retirement. Cook feared playing second fiddle to Gronk, which ultimately was an unjustified fear because the Patriots couldn’t convince the tight end to come out of retirement. Receiver Adam Humphries was another whiff in free agency — the Titans outbid the Patriots. New England sniffed around Golden Tate, a free agent who landed with the Giants. And the Patriots showed interest in trades for receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepard. Belichick’s search for talent was exhaustive. But it went beyond the offseason.
The Patriots tried to rehabilitate receiver Josh Gordon, who grew unreliable into the regular season in 2018 and 2019, likely as a product of his battle against mental health issues and addiction. New England also attempted to make things work with an erratic Antonio Brown, who then faced allegations of rape and sexual assault just two days into his Patriots’ tenure. They were desperate. Their decision to trade a second-round pick for receiver Mohamed Sanu spoke to that desperation. He seemed like a natural fit in the offense, and therefore justified the steep price, but to this point, the Patriots can’t feel good on their return on investment. He hasn’t looked like the No. 2 receiver they wanted to take pressure of Julian Edelman.
On Sunday after getting bounced from the playoffs, Belichick was asked whether he felt he surrounded Brady with enough talent this season.
“The team was constructed very competitively. I think that was reflected in our overall play during the course of the year,” Belichick said.
So what did all that effort amount to? A 20-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans in the wild-card round of the playoffs.
It amounted to the Brady finishing the year with one of his worst seasons of his career. His touchdown total in 2019 (24) was the least since 2003, his completion percentage (60.8) was tied for third-worst in his career, and his 6.6 yards per attempt were his second-worst. He struggled in the playoffs, too. His final throw of the playoffs was a pick six. It may be his final play for the Patriots, with his contract set to expire.
Brady couldn’t elevate the play of his teammates for the first time since 2013 — and, before that, since 2004. That’s what has made him special. That’s how he’s won so many Super Bowls. He has made his supporting cast better. In 2019, he couldn’t do that, whether because of age or injuries or both. Perhaps seeing that coming, Belichick did everything he could — within reason (and perhaps without reason (see: Brown, Antonio)) — to help Brady.
The Patriots defense was the best in the NFL, and allowed just 14 points (excluding the pick-six) against the Titans. That should have been enough for Brady and company to generate a win. But Brady’s decline became a problem for the Patriots in 2019. Though Belichick was trying to prepare for that possibility, his efforts failed. So the Patriots failed.
Brady and Belichick failed to get past the Titans. New England fell short of its goal: a win in Super Bowl LIV.
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