Bill Belichick could be training against the Colts for his job with the Patriots
Bill Belichick’s last appearance could take place in Germany.
Ben Volin of the Boston Globe has mentioned twice in recent days that it’s possible the Patriots could make a coaching change if Belichick loses to the Colts in Germany this Sunday.
A loss would drop the Patriots to 2-8, putting them firmly in the race for the No. 1 seed.
Volin addressed the topic for the first time Friday, two days before the Patriots hosted the Commanders.
“Based on my conversations, I don’t think Belichick will be 100 percent to finish this season. “The next two games before the bye are huge, especially the game against Germany, which for the Krafts is basically the team’s Super Bowl.” Volin wrote. “If Belichick loses at home to the Commanders and then the Colts and comes home from Germany with a 2-8 record, I think there’s a chance the Krafts will switch on the bye week and install Jerod Mayo as interim coach for the last seven games.”
The first result needed for this hypothesis to come into play occurred on Sunday when the Patriots lost 20-17 to the Commanders.
That leaves Sunday’s game against the Colts – the team at the center of DeflateGate – as a potential game-winning contest.
The Colts (4-5) are two-point favorites for this game at BetMGM.
Volin didn’t use such forceful words Sunday after the Patriots’ second straight loss, but it’s notable that he broached the subject twice in three days.
“The Patriots don’t play again at Gillette Stadium against the Chargers until December 3rd. Will Belichick continue to be the head coach?” Volin wrote. “It used to seem absurd to assume he would be fired in the middle of the season, but if the Patriots don’t beat the Colts in Germany next week, the Krafts may have to think about doing so in Week 11.”
A lot would go into such a decision, especially since Belichick reportedly signed a “lucrative” contract extension earlier this year, but Kraft may have seen enough.
The Patriots have a 27-31 record since Tom Brady left town with one playoff appearance – a 47-17 loss to the Bills in the 2021 season – in the last three years.
Kraft reportedly already has a “home run” signing in mind to replace Belichick in Titans coach Mike Vrabel, raising hopes that a move could happen sooner rather than later.
