Patriots captain Wise backs Belichick: 'We don't have a bad team'
Patriots defensive lineman and team captain Deatrich Wise Jr. doesn't think the popular "You are what your record says you are" saying applies to New England.
"This is a tough season and we have a bad record, but we don't have a bad team," said Wise, who also strongly praised head coach Bill Belichick, according to Matt Geagan of CBS Boston.
The Patriots fell to 2-8 for the first time since 2000 after last week's loss to the Indianapolis Colts. New England has particularly struggled offensively with Mac Jones at quarterback, ranking 31st in points per game.
Meanwhile, the Patriots' defense - often one of the NFL's best under Belichick - is also in the bottom half of the league in both points and EPA per play allowed.
Wise likes some of the things he's seen from his team on both sides of the ball, though.
"We've done a lot of great things," he said Tuesday. "On defense, we continue to have great success. There have been a lot of teams that score a high number of points, and we're consistently stopping them from their yearly average. A lot of good teams come our way, and, besides maybe two games, they leave with their season low."
The veteran defender added: "We're doing some great things on offense; the line is moving guys out of the way and holes are being created. ... There are a lot of connections and glimpses of positive plays throughout the game on both sides of the ball and on special teams."
Wise, a 2017 fourth-round pick who's spent his entire NFL career with the Patriots, has racked up 37 tackles and two sacks in 2023.
He also backed Jones, who was benched again for Bailey Zappe in the fourth quarter versus the Colts after tossing a late interception. The 2021 first-round passer now has 10 touchdowns and 10 picks this season.
"We still believe in him," Wise said of Jones. "There are a lot of tough things going on, but he's doing a great job handling the criticism that is coming his way. We, as a team, support him and are behind him."
New England will visit the 2-8 New York Giants after its Week 11 bye.