The New England Patriots have gotten off to a disastrous 1-4 start, representing their worst record through five games since Bill Belichick’s first season as head coach back in 2000.

While the Patriots have been plagued with all sorts of issues, their No. 1 problem has been their aerial attack.

Third-year quarterback Mac Jones has been brutal, particularly over the last couple of weeks. He was benched in each of New England’s last two losses, with the Pats getting outscored 72-3 in those games.

The Patriots also don’t have a very dynamic group of receivers, which has certainly made things a bit more difficult for Jones (although that is no excuse for his terrible play).

There was a time when Belichick could do no wrong, but ever since Tom Brady departed via free agency in March 2020, Belichick’s warts have been starting to show.

The legendary coach and general manager has made numerous head-scratching decisions over the past several years, and Tom Curran of NBC Sports Boston feels that one major mistake Belichick made back in the spring was letting wide receiver Jakobi Meyers walk.

Meyers signed with the Las Vegas Raiders back in March and has been a very productive member of the Raiders’ offense thus far in 2023, logging 25 catches for 274 yards and there touchdowns.

The 26-year-old spent the first four years of his NFL career in Foxborough, and during his final season with the Patriots in 2022, he hauled in 67 receptions for 804 yards and six touchdowns.

Are those elite numbers? No, but they are still solid, and it shows that Meyers absolutely could have helped New England’s ailing passing game this year.

The Pats are averaging just 11 points per game, which ranks dead last in the NFL. They will face Meyers next Sunday when they head out west to take on the Las Vegas Raiders.

Want the latest NFL analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click here. Interested in reading storylines and analysis about the NBA? Check out our partner NBA Analysis Network.