New England Patriots

Will Brady be back in Tampa, somewhere else in the NFL, or retired by the time the 2023 league season starts?

(Before you ask why one notable free agent QB's name isn't on the list, it's because there's no way he's coming back unless Kraft gives him the keys to the organization.)

Whatever way you slice it, the Pats' roster is middle of the road in terms of NFL talent. The head coach can still work his magic and put together game plans to help stymy the opposition, but is it time someone new takes over upstairs to help retool the roster?

Despite being "in it" right until the final four minutes or so of the season, the Patriots never truly felt "in it" this year relative to actual good teams in the league.

The loss, coupled with Miami beating the New York Jets, eliminated the Patriots (8-9) from the playoffs for the second time in three years, and just the fourth time in 23 seasons during Bill Belichick's coaching tenure.

The Patriots' seven defensive touchdowns this season are the most in franchise history and most by any team since the 2017 Jaguars

Cincinnati dominated the first half, compiling more first downs (22) in the opening 30 minutes than the Patriots had plays (17). New England managed just three first downs, 70 total yards and amassed 44 penalty yards.

The Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots are now the two problem children of the Boston sports scene, after earning the city the moniker of "Titletown," thanks to their heavy lifting over the past two decades.

Debacle, fiasco, disaster, they all just seem to fall short of the sheer ineptitude the New England Patriots displayed as they literally threw away a win, and in all likelihood, their playoff hopes yesterday in Sin City.

Defensive end Chandler Jones grabbed a bizarre, unnecessary lateral by New England's Jakobi Meyers out of the air on the final play and returned it 48 yards for a touchdown, giving the Las Vegas Raiders a 30-24 victory over the Patriots on Sunday.