2023 New England Patriots season

The 2023 season was the New England Patriots' 54th season in the National Football League (NFL), their 64th overall, their 22nd playing home games at Gillette Stadium and their 24th and final under head coach Bill Belichick.

The Patriots started 1–5 for the first time since 1995. Following their Week 12 loss to the New York Giants, the Patriots failed to improve on their 8–9 record from 2022. This was the first time the Patriots had back-to-back losing seasons since 1992–1993. The Patriots missed the postseason for the second consecutive year (and third in four seasons) after the Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Colts in Week 14. Following a Week 17 loss to the Buffalo Bills, the Patriots finished last in the AFC East for the first time since 2000. The 4–13 record marked Belichick's worst-ever season as an NFL head coach, and the Patriots' worst season since 1992.

The team's offense was notably bad, finishing last in scoring (tied with the Panthers). The team was shutout twice, failed to score 20 or more points in 12 games, and for the first time since 1991, they did not score 30 or more points in any of their games.

For the first season since 2009, safety Devin McCourty was not on the roster, as he announced his retirement on March 10, 2023. Following the season, Belichick and the Patriots mutually agreed to part ways on January 11, 2024.

Trades

 * March 16 – Tight end Jonnu Smith was traded to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for a 2023 seventh-round selection (No. 245).
 * August 27 – Running back Pierre Strong Jr. was traded to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for offensive tackle Tyrone Wheatley Jr.
 * August 27 – The Patriots traded a 2024 sixth-round selection to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for offensive tackle Vederian Lowe.
 * August 29 – Kicker Nick Folk was traded to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for a 2025 seventh-round selection.
 * October 5 – The Patriots traded a 2025 sixth-round selection to the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for cornerback J. C. Jackson and a 2025 seventh-round selection.

Schedule
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Week 1: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
In the Patriots season opener, they hosted the Eagles. On a day where the team honored longtime quarterback Tom Brady in their halftime ceremony, it was spoiled by an Eagles victory. The loss was the team's third consecutive season where they lost their season opener. The Patriots started off the season 0–1.

Week 2: vs. Miami Dolphins
For the first time since 2001, the Patriots lost their first two games.

Week 3: at New York Jets
The Patriots picked up their first win of the season, improving to 1–2. Additionally, this win marked the team's 15th straight victory over the Jets in their rivalry, dating back to 2016.

Week 4: at Dallas Cowboys
Bill Belichick endured his worst loss ever as a head coach. Two defensive touchdowns by the Cowboys sealed the defeat. The Patriots dropped to 1–3 after this game.

Week 5: vs. New Orleans Saints
For the second straight week, the Patriots failed to score a touchdown. This was the team's first shutout loss since 2016. They dropped to 1–4.

Week 6: at Las Vegas Raiders
The Patriots lost to the Raiders, and had their worst start in the Bill Belichick era. They dropped to 1–5 for the first time since 1995.

Week 7: vs. Buffalo Bills
This win, their first in three games, as well as their first against the Bills in two years, marks Bill Belichick's 300th in his head coaching career. This would end up being the Patriots' only win at home this season.

Week 8: at Miami Dolphins
For the second time in three years, the Patriots got swept by the Dolphins.

Week 9: vs. Washington Commanders
This was the Patriots' first loss to Washington since 2003, and their first home loss to them since 1996.

Week 10: vs. Indianapolis Colts
NFL Germany games

This was the Patriots' first-ever regular season game in Germany and were the designated home team; this was their first "home" loss to the Colts since 2006.

Week 12: at New York Giants
This was the Patriots' first road loss to the Giants since 1987. Chad Ryland missed a game-tying field goal with 6 seconds left to seal the defeat.

Week 13: vs. Los Angeles Chargers
The Patriots fell to 2–10, securing their first season with 10 or more losses since 2000, which was Belichick's first season coaching the team. This was the Patriots' first five-game losing streak since 1995. Plus, this was the first time in franchise history that the Patriots were shut out at home twice in a season. Also, the Patriots became the first team since the 1938 Cardinals to allow 10 or fewer points in three consecutive games and lose all of them.

Week 14: at Pittsburgh Steelers
This win snapped the Patriots' five-game losing streak. On top of that, the Patriots scored more points in this game than in their previous three games combined. However, the Patriots were eliminated from postseason contention when the Bengals defeated the Colts the following Sunday.

Week 17: at Buffalo Bills
This was the second time in three seasons these teams split the series. With the loss, the Patriots fell to 4–12, setting a new record for most losses under Robert Kraft's ownership, and the most losses under Bill Belichick, and their most losses since 1992. Also, the loss meant that the Patriots would finish last in the AFC East for the first time since 2000.

Week 18: vs. New York Jets
This was the Patriots' first loss to the Jets since 2015, and their first home loss to them since the 2010 playoffs. With this loss, they finished with the worst record in the AFC. This was also Bill Belichick’s final game with New England, as he and the Patriots mutually agreed to part ways a couple of days afterwards.