JEROD Mayo has sent a clear message to the rest of the league over his team's focus this week.
It comes with pressure mounting on the New England Patriots coach after a rocky first season.
The Patriots take on the Buffalo Bills in their season-finale on Sunday.
Buffalo is already assured of the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs and likely to rest some starters.
New England, meanwhile, has just three wins in 2024 and currently holds the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft.
A loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday would seal the top draft spot for Mayo's men.
But the coach was adamant that he's only thinking about winning Sunday's game.
"We're 100% focused on beating the Buffalo Bills and that's what we have to do," Mayo said.
The 38-year-old won the Super Bowl with the Patriots as a player.
He spent his entire career in New England from 2008 to 2015 after being drafted No. 10 overall.
But he's found the coaching game a lot tougher having been given the top job this year.
Mayo served as the inside linebackers coach from 2019 to 2023.
He saw the franchise's switch from the winning machine under Bill Belichick and Tom Brady to now.
And Mayo was selected as the man to rebuild the Patriots after Belichick was fired this year.
Owner Robert Kraft is expected to keep Mayo for a second season, despite the awful year.
But that could change depending on how the 2024 campaign finishes.
New England was routed 40-7 at home by the Los Angeles Chargers last week.
JEROD Mayo has sent a clear message to the rest of the league over his team's focus this week.
It comes with pressure mounting on the New England Patriots coach after a rocky first season.
The Patriots take on the Buffalo Bills in their season-finale on Sunday.
Buffalo is already assured of the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs and likely to rest some starters.
New England, meanwhile, has just three wins in 2024 and currently holds the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft.
A loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday would seal the top draft spot for Mayo's men.
But the coach was adamant that he's only thinking about winning Sunday's game.
"We're 100% focused on beating the Buffalo Bills and that's what we have to do," Mayo said.
The 38-year-old won the Super Bowl with the Patriots as a player.
He spent his entire career in New England from 2008 to 2015 after being drafted No. 10 overall.
But he's found the coaching game a lot tougher having been given the top job this year.
Mayo served as the inside linebackers coach from 2019 to 2023.
He saw the franchise's switch from the winning machine under Bill Belichick and Tom Brady to now.
And Mayo was selected as the man to rebuild the Patriots after Belichick was fired this year.
Owner Robert Kraft is expected to keep Mayo for a second season, despite the awful year.
But that could change depending on how the 2024 campaign finishes.
New England was routed 40-7 at home by the Los Angeles Chargers last week.
And the coach said, "It's the last game of the season and we have to look forward.
"It's a journey. It's trying to be present and win this football game, but we have to look out the front windshield and where we want to go."
