NEW DELHI: Three NFL teams, the
New England Patriots
,
New York Jets
, and
New York Giants
, find themselves mired at the bottom of the league in scoring, showcasing offensive struggles that haven't been seen collectively in over a decade.
The Jets currently sit at 30th place, averaging 14.3 points per game, followed closely by the Giants at 13.3 and the Patriots at a paltry 12.3.
This marks the first time since 2011 that three teams have scored fewer than 15 points per game in the first 12 contests of the season.
Coach
Bill Belichick
's Patriots, in particular, are enduring a historically poor offensive season. They hold the dubious distinction of being the lowest-scoring team through 12 games since the 2011 Rams, with a meager 12.3 points per game. New England's recent woes include being shut out twice at home, a rare occurrence in the team's storied history. They lost 6-0 to the Chargers, making them the first team since 1938 to lose three straight games while allowing 10 or fewer points in each.
The Patriots' next challenge comes on Thursday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers, with a game that is projected to have few points scored. The Steelers, set to start
Mitch Trubisky
at quarterback, and the Patriots likely turning to
Bailey Zappe
for a second straight game, have an over-under set at a remarkably low 30.5 points, the lowest in the past 15 seasons according to Sportradar.
Both the Jets and the Patriots face the added challenge of having solid defensive performances this season, yet find themselves with losing records. The Jets, with a record of 4-8, are allowing 19.6 points per game, while the Patriots, at 2-10, have an even stingier defense, allowing only 18.6 points per game.
The Giants, on the other hand, grapple with offensive line issues and quarterbacks holding onto the ball too long, resulting in a league-leading 69 sacks through 12 games.
