​Tom Brady Gives Blunt Assessment of Patriots Midway Through Season originally appeared on NESN.
Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.In Tom Brady’s return to Foxborough as a Fox broadcaster, the Patriots flopped while the Packers blew them out 45-27.A big reason for the loss was that the Patriots turned the ball over four times, three of which were Drake Maye interceptions and one coming on a Rhamondre Stevenson fumble. It was even more notable that Brady was on the call, considering how good he was at protecting the ball throughout his career.With nine games now in the books, the Patriots sit as the third-and-final Wild Card team in the AFC playoffs, which shows how much room the team has to grow. Brady may have only broadcast one of their games, but he has watched New England play enough football this year to know what the team needs to do in order to improve down the stretch.Here’s Brady’s biggest critique of the Patriots in 2026.Tom Brady Assesses Patriots at Midpoint of SeasonAfter the Patriots lost at home to the Packers, Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman had Brady on the “Gronk and Jules Show” from Foxborough. The trio talked a lot about the Patriots, as expected, looking back on their times together in New England.In the episode, though, Brady gave his thoughts on where the Patriots sit nine games into the season.”Half the games this season, they’ve turned the ball over a bunch; half the games, they haven’t,” Brady said. “At some point, you’re not gonna ever win the games you should win, based on your talent or your scheme, if you give the ball away. One good, one bad, one good, one bad gets you right in the middle of the pack.”Brady called a Patriots game for the first time this season on Sunday, but he has surely seen the team’s entire output. So far, Brady seems to think the team is turning the ball over too much, and the numbers do back it up.The Patriots have given up multiple turnovers in six of their nine games this season, with Drake Maye tossing multiple interceptions in three of those contests. New England is 0-3 in games in which they have three turnovers, and they had a season-high four turnovers on Sunday against Green Bay.However, what makes the turnover problem bigger is that the defense isn’t getting takeaways at the same rate. While the Patriots have 19 turnovers on the year, tied for the most in the NFL, they also have just eight takeways for a turnover margin of -11, the worst in the league.From ESPN Research: The Patriots have a minus-11 turnover differential this season, tied with Colts for worst in the NFL. First team with a minus-11 turnover differential or worse, and winning record through 9 games, since 2011 Steelers (minus-11, started 6-3, finished 12-4).— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) November 9, 2026For the Patriots to get to where they want to go, they need to protect the ball more while also increasing their takeaway total. No one knows that better than Tom Brady.More PatriotsLatest Pat