Patriots believe in Jerod Mayo despite chants of “Fire Mayo.”

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Short-term thoughts and notes surrounding the New England Patriots and the NFL:

1. Calls of “Fire Mayo” at Gillette: During the fourth quarter of the Patriots’ 40-7 home loss to the Chargers on Saturday, a group of fans in sparsely filled Gillette Stadium began chanting “Fire Mayo.”

It was another reminder of how challenging it has been for first-year head coach Jerod Mayo, whose team is 3-13 and will finish with a home game against the Buffalo Bills in Week 18.

“You hear these things. But at the same time, they paid to sit in the seats and we have to play better,” Mayo said of the chants. “If we play better, we won’t have to listen to this.”

Team owner Robert Kraft must make important decisions about the future of Mayo and first-year executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf. It’s generally not normal to move on after one season, but there also needs to be tangible evidence that things are going in the right direction.

Is a Week 1 win in Cincinnati that no one expected enough for Mayo? Is a 2-6 record in one-score games – including a 24-21 loss to the AFC East champion Bills last week – enough progress?

As for Wolf, the best thing he’s accomplished in his first year as personnel manager is producing promising quarterback Drake Maye with the No. 3 overall pick. Does that alone make him safe? The rest of the draft class was shaky, particularly in two of the team’s most important areas – receivers and offensive line. Likewise, Wolf’s first free agent class has delivered mixed results.

As of Sunday, the Patriots have the No. 2 pick in the 2025 draft and are among the league leaders in salary cap space, increasing the urgency for Kraft to get it right.

In the locker room Saturday after the loss to the Chargers, one of Mayo’s captains stood behind him.

“I think he does a great job keeping us motivated and prepared and pursuing our goals every week,” said senior defensive lineman Deatrich Wise Jr. “It’s up to the players. Coaches train, players play. I’m just talking about myself and I felt like there were a lot of games I could have played better to help the team win. I have the feeling that Mayo proves people right.” He has a very positive attitude, but also provides motivating criticism of people.

“I don’t think we should write him off now. A lot of coaches have a tough start, but there are several coaches who are doing well now and in the playoffs. I feel like we have to keep believing in Coach and him. I’ll find a way to make everything right next year.

Veteran defensive tackle Davon Godchaux responded fiery to the “Fire Mayo” chants.

“The guy is in his first season. It won’t be golden. We didn’t expect to win a Super Bowl this year. I get it, no one wants to get beaten 40-7, but the chant is ridiculous,” he said .

“Everyone plays a role in this. It’s not just Jerod Mayo. Players, coaches, front office. We just have to get better as an entire organization. I believe in this organization. We just had probably the best team in the NFL. “I just got on the ropes (in Buffalo) last week. The guy is just ridiculous.

Likewise, Maye said he believes he’s being coached just as hard as he was in Week 1, while nine-year veteran cornerback Jonathan Jones cited last week’s game against the Bills and noted how prepared the Patriots were.

“I think they did a good job all season, but I think we fell short as players,” Jones said. “Some coaches didn’t make it, if I’m honest. That’s why we take all responsibility for the season we’ve put together.”

It’s the kind of season that usually brings about change in some form. After Saturday’s embarrassing loss to the Chargers, the crowd’s chants and the prospect of another half-full stadium next week, questions about what that potential change might look like are intensifying.

play

Drake Maye throws a 36-yard TD pass to DeMario Douglas

DeMario Douglas scores on a 36-yard touchdown pass from Drake Maye, cutting the Patriots’ deficit against the Chargers to 17-7.

2. RB surprise: Mayo had said in a radio interview before Saturday’s game that Antonio Gibson would start at running back after Rhamondre Stevenson scored an NFL-high seventh time in Week 16. But when the game started, it was Stevenson who gave the starting signal.

At the end of the contest, Gibson had a slight lead with 29 snaps played (12 runs for 63 yards), while Stevenson played 24 snaps (two runs for 1 yard).

Afterwards, Mayo said it was a “coach’s decision” and declined to elaborate on whether anything happened between the interview and game time that might change his mind, or whether there might have been a break in communication with his message .

3. Maye’s Health: Maye had a scary moment Saturday when Chargers defensive back Cam Hart’s helmet touched his helmet on a running play early in the first quarter. Maye lay there for a moment and said, “Sometimes the doorbell rings and you have to shake it back.”

Maye reported that similar to Oct. 27 against the Jets – when he left the game for a concussion exam and did not return – an independent observer called to the sideline and had him undergo a concussion test. This time, Maye was cleared to return in the second quarter.

“I feel good – I still feel good – and then we were good to go,” Maye said.

4. Risky Business: Maye stayed in the game for two drives in the fourth quarter Saturday while the Patriots trailed 37-7, which Mayo explained as the Patriots “trying to develop a quarterback.” Maye had already received that concussion test.

The team’s best defensive player, cornerback Christian Gonzalez, was forced out of the game in the second quarter due to a concussion, and it’s safe to assume there’s nothing better than ensuring the health of these two franchise cornerstones.

As Maye said, “The guys up front are fighting their butts off, so I’m not going to go to the coach and say, ‘Hey, take me out.’ That’s not me.”

5. Strange’s new home: Cole Strange, the 2022 first-round pick who started at center Saturday in his first offensive appearance since tearing his patellar tendon on Dec. 17, 2023, reported that he left the game healthy.

After playing exclusively left guard in his first two seasons in the NFL, he said he would be open to making center his full-time position.

“I don’t think I took any bad snaps,” Strange said. “I had one at the start of the third quarter, but that’s a matter of timing and I’ll fix that. I think most of my mistakes were more mental than technical, so I’m thinking about simple fixes. I am extremely confident that I am moving in the right direction.

6. Trading Review: Chargers rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey traded New England’s second-round pick (No. 34) and fourth-round pick (No. 137) to Los Angeles in exchange for a second-rounder (No. 37). and pay a fourth -rounder (No. 110).

The Chargers selected McConkey at No. 34 and cornerback Tarheeb Still at No. 137, while the Patriots selected wideouts Ja’Lynn Polk (37) and Javon Baker (110).

To consider how one-sided the deal is at this point, consider that McConkey finished Saturday’s game with more receiving yards (94) than Polk (87) and Baker (0) did all season. This season, McConkey has 77 catches for 1,054 yards and seven touchdowns, while Still leads the Chargers with four interceptions.

7. Lions Model: The Lions’ recent success — after going 3-13-1 in coach Dan Campbell’s first season in 2021 and a 1-6 start to the 2022 season — was recently used as an example of the benefits of having a young quarterback to remain coach (e.g. as Mayo of the Patriots).

Jerry Montgomery, the Patriots’ first-year defensive line coach, cited this most recently, saying in the days leading up to Saturday’s game: “I was in Green Bay for nine years, and Detroit was a guest in a lot of away games for a long time.” They have Overcame the hurdle and gained some confidence. It’s a process that doesn’t happen overnight. We are here to ensure we take the next step and continue to strive for excellence.

8. They said it: “I feel like I’ve lost my two years (in the NFL) and it’s time to make a change. We have some pieces, we’ll add more pieces next year, and I feel like we could do it. “I’m just tired of losing something. – WR DeMario Douglas

9. Did you know? Part I: Saturday’s 40-7 loss to the Chargers was the sixth-worst home loss in Patriots history.

10. Did you know? Part II: The Patriots’ loss on Saturday gives them a winning percentage below .300 in consecutive seasons for the first time in franchise history.