New England’s recent performance has led to scrutiny, with many people weighing in on how far the team has fallen. Here’s what NFL experts are saying about the Patriots this week.

Bill Simmons, The Ringer: Simmons wrote on X, “This is the worst-coached Pats team since Rod Rust. They play all the hits every week — dumb penalties, drops, special teams mistakes, incredibly poor play calling. Each week is worse than the last.”

In response to Mayo’s comments about needing more from rookie wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk, Simmons also posted, “Hey Mayo, we need more from you actually. Why is your D worse every week? Did Polk jump offside on a PAT to set up a 2 point? Did Polk give up a punt TD? Did Polk call all those sh***y run plays? You’re only good at throwing shade at everyone else – including the previous coach.”

Greg Bedard on 98.5 The Sports Hub: “It’s my opinion from talking to people that I don’t think Jerod Mayo is assured of a second season if this is a complete dumpster fire.”

“Now I don’t think that’s likely, but considering where we are in Week 7, they are weeks away from even a bye week trying to reset, not that that’s going to do any good with this coaching staff. … But I think it would be wise for Jerod to get on top of things. If that means him going into the defense meeting room, taking over play calling, something. If this is the way the rest of the season is going to go, a lot of people are going to get fired.”

Steve Buckley, The Athletic: “Both the Patriots and Jaguars came into Sunday with bookend 1-5 records. That made this a so-called “winnable” game for both teams, except only the Jaguars seemed to grasp the meaning of that word. So breezily and giddily did the Jaguars run the ball that by the end of the day they had outmuscled the soft (© Jerod Mayo 2024) Patriots in ground yards 171-38.”

Calling New England “history-making bad,” Buckley wrote, “The Pats committed their usual array of head-scratching penalties.”

Josh Kendall, The Athletic: In a week 8 ranking of all NFL teams, the Patriots were placed at No. 29.

“Rookie quarterback Drake Maye’s insertion into the lineup hasn’t turned the tide, and the locals are starting to turn on first-year head coach Jerod Mayo,” Kendall wrote.

Chad Finn, The Boston Globe: “The guts of the Patriots’ defense (Christian Barmore, Ja’Whaun Bentley, Jabril Peppers) is absent, but some of the guys replacing them look like they’re auditioning for the waiver wire. The best tackler on this team might be its head coach.”

“The Patriots had not lost six straight games since 1993. This streak might get a heck of a lot longer, with their lack of talent and lacking effort. It’s wild to think that this team should have started 2-0, because right now it’s tough to figure where and when that second win will come. Does having the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft count as a win?”

Tara Sullivan, The Boston Globe: “The once undisputed crown jewel of the NFL has been reduced to a tarnished imitation of their former selves, unable to shine in the spotlight of the international stage.”

Ben Volin, The Boston Globe: “A quick rundown of all the things the Patriots are doing well right now: Nothing. Null set. Does not compute.”

Volin also wrote, “They were non-competitive in a 24-3 loss to the Jets in Week 3, then were pitiful against the Jaguars in London,” and in another piece said, “Their games are rife with poor play and mental errors.”

Christopher Price, The Boston Globe: Referring to Ja’Whaun Bentley, Christian Barmore, and Jabrill Peppers, Price wrote: “I’m not saying all three should get a wide berth. But if they can’t find a way to pull out of this nosedive fast, they’re setting themselves up for a lot of questions this offseason.”

Bill Belichick on The Pat McAfee Show: “The Patriots led the league in rushing defense last year and they still have a lot of those players… I’m hurt for those guys because they’re not soft… I feel bad for the defensive players because they’re all tough players.”

“I think when you criticize your team publicly like that, it doesn’t always go over well. Now, every coach has their own style and maybe sometimes that can be effective and all, but ultimately I always felt like when a team played bad, that was my responsibility, too. We might’ve had bad playing, but we had bad coaching that led to bad playing. So I think it’s always best to kind of take a look at yourself and do what you can do to help the team. And then, you know, if you have constructive criticism as a coach, that’s your job.”

Tom Brady on The Pat McAfee Show: “I look at the Patriots yesterday, they couldn’t stop the run against Jacksonville, which is one of the worst running teams in the league. Their backs ran for 18 yards and they give up a 96-yard punt return. So those things aren’t good. You know, obviously I don’t care who you play for or what team you are, that’s not a good formula right there.”

Keagan Stiefel, NESN: “The Patriots had a plan entering the offseason, but after just seven weeks it’s already safe to say that plan failed… miserably.”

“The Patriots likely could have avoided the trouble they eventually faced if they would have just signed any of the veteran free agents who were available… The Patriots had more than enough money to make an offer to those veteran options, but they didn’t. If you mix that approach with some truly horrendous luck, you end up with 11 different offensive line groupings in seven weeks — with 12 different players getting snaps.”

In another piece, Stiefel wrote, “with one-half of the fan base believing there needs to be some patience and the other showcasing their bloodlust after just seven weeks… the Patriots absolutely should not fire Mayo, whether that be at any point this season or next.”

Zachary Pereles, CBS Sports: “Jerod Mayo characterized his Patriots as ‘soft’ after a 32-16 loss to the Jaguars in London. He reserves that right because he played in the NFL, but even he wouldn’t have wanted to step in front of a tank. Tank Bigsby ran for 118 yards and two touchdowns.”

NFL.com staff: “Maye’s day marred by supporting cast. In his second NFL start, Drake Maye displayed greater comfortability and poise in the pocket, dishing dimes at every level with confidence and avoiding interceptions. That the green rookie signal-caller is already the most reliable piece in New England’s offense, though, is a troubling sign. Rhamondre Stevenson, typically the heartbeat of this Pats offense, was a non-factor (25 yards on nine touches) coming off a foot injury. The offensive line, in its seventh iteration in as many games, lost another starter when Layden Robinson was sidelined, and it wilted in the shuffle. As for New England’s pass catchers, Maye found a lot of them, but none with more frequency than Hunter Henry (eight catches, 92 yards). The wide receivers were more of a mixed bag. Ja’Lynn Polk dropped three more passes and slipped on a crucial two-point conversion before exiting with a head injury. Demario Douglas had just two grabs while dealing with an illness. Maye dropped a few beauties to K.J. Osborn and Kayshon Boutte — and his 26-of-37, 276-yards, two-TD line is all you can ask of a rookie — but there remain too few dependable difference-makers in the Pats’ attack.”

ESPN staff: Using their Football Power Index, they predict the Patriots’ chance of earning the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL draft to be 42.6%, and the chance of earning a top-five pick to be just about 90%.

“Our FPI predictions still give the New England Patriots the best chance to secure the first pick after Week 7.”

Mike Reiss, ESPN: “Growing pains were expected in Mayo’s first season, but the way the Patriots have regressed since a season-opening win has been concerning. Mayo is a self-proclaimed ‘defensive coach,’ and the defensive performance Sunday — other than a fourth-quarter stop on fourth down — was alarming after they jumped out to a 10-0 lead. The Patriots had trouble stopping the run again and the Jaguars owned the line of scrimmage, which is supposed to be the Patriots’ strength. While they are missing key defenders DT Christian Barmore (blood clots), LB Ja’Whaun Bentley (torn pectoral muscle) and S Jabrill Peppers (commissioner exempt list), that isn’t an excuse for a team that prides itself on the ‘next-man-up’ mentality.”

“Biggest hole in the game plan: No running game. The Patriots’ inability to run put rookie QB Drake Maye in a tough spot. It’s hard to be one-dimensional and win, and Maye still gave them a fighting chance with his strong passing performance. Instability along the offensive line, with the Patriots playing with their seventh different starting unit in seven games, seems to be the root of the issue.”

Phil Perry, NBC Sports Boston: “The vibes in New England right now? Could be better.”

“I don’t think we’re close to Mayo being relieved of his duties. They knew it was going to take some time. They intend to give it to them,” Perry wrote, referring to the Kraft family.

Mike Masala, The Sporting News: “New England’s defense, which was expected to be the best of their three units this season, has looked horrible over the last two weeks while rookie quarterback Drake Maye has tried his best to lift up the offense.”

Jimmy Golen, The Associated Press: “Coach Jerod Mayo admitted what anyone watching his once-proud franchise this season already knew: The Patriots aren’t tough enough to be competitive.”

Golen also said that the run defense “needs help.”

Evan Massey, Sports Illustrated: “The new era of football for the New England Patriots has not gotten off to a great start. While they were never expected to be a playoff contender, things have not gone smoothly.”

Massey wrote that New England needs to move players around. “Outside of Mayo, the team simply hasn’t played well. The offensive line has been bad and constantly injured. Defensively, the team has not been able to play at the level they did last season under Belichick.”

Josh Alper, Pro Football Talk: “Any attempt to explain why the Patriots are 1-6 this season and 13-28 since the start of the 2022 season leads to the same conclusion that there needs to be upgrades on every facet of the roster in New England.”

Kevin Patra, NFL.com: “The Patriots have been missing key pieces, including Christian Barmore and Ja’Whaun Bentley, this season, but the disintegration of their run defense has been stunning. Perhaps Mayo didn’t need to publicly call his club “soft” in the aftermath of last week’s win. But even players in the locker room can admit the coach’s characterization wasn’t entirely off base.”

Scott McLaughlin, WEEI: “Obviously, it’s fair to say that Belichick did leave behind a depleted roster, one that went 4-13 last season. But it’s also fair to say that Mayo, Wolf and company did little to improve it this offseason outside of drafting quarterback Drake Maye third overall. Most of their other ‘big’ moves were just re-signing guys who were already part of the roster Belichick left them.”