The Patriots have a choice to make coming off of a bye week with four games left on the schedule and no hope at the playoffs.
Will they keep competing and try to play spoiler against the Cardinals, Bills and Chargers? Or will they start planning their post-season vacations early and fold?
We'll find out Sunday against the Cardinals if the bye week -- the latest in the NFL season -- came at a perfect time to rejuvenate this team, or if the Patriots are too far gone.
Here are six players who must improve over the final stretch.
There are clearly other factors in play when analyzing Stevenson's 3.7 yards per carry, which ranks 38th out of 42 qualified running backs.
He's running behind perhaps the NFL's worst offensive lines, and the Patriots trail in so many games that it's been difficult for the team to truly establish their rushing attack.
That's fair. But he also ranks 26th with 2.0 yards after contact per attempt. And running back Antonio Gibson is averaging 4.7 yards per carry and 2.8 yards after contact per attempt.
That tells you two things. First, Gibson should probably be playing more. He's been a solid addition for the Patriots, and he seems to fit the offensive scheme well. Second, Stevenson, who has also fumbled six times, needs to step up.
Polk's struggles are well-documented at this point. He's caught just 12 passes for 87 yards with two touchdowns on 31 targets in 12 games.
The first step is getting him on the field more. He averaged 43 snaps in six games before suffering a Week 7 concussion. He's averaged just 21.8 snaps in his last five games.
Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt sees Polk's issues as being, in part, mental.
"It's the transition from the college game to the pro game is never easy for any rookie. That's part of it," Van Pelt said Thursday. "I think the rookie wall, not having success early, having some drops early kind of set him back a little bit mentally. All lessons for him to fight through and keep pushing. I think he's going to be a very good player for us. He can continue to work, continue to prove each week."
Head coach Jerod Mayo was impressed by Robinson's start at left guard in Week 13.
"Look, I thought Layden went out there and played his best game," Mayo said. "It wasn't perfect by far, but definitely took a step forward."
PFF didn't necessarily agree. The rookie fourth-round pick earned a season-low 28.9 grade, allowed four pressures and was charged with two holding penalties.
Robinson, who started at right guard at Texas A&M and in his first six career NFL starts, is new to left guard but needs to play with better technique to avoid penalties. If he can impress over the final four weeks of the season at left guard, it could remove a need on the offensive line this offseason. Robinson has already been benched twice this season, so if he continues to struggle, then the Patriots will need to try Cole Strange at that spot or look to add guard help in the draft or free agency.
It's been a pretty up-and-down season for Onwenu, the Patriots' highest-paid offensive player.
He's coming off a season-low 49.2 PFF grade in Week 13 before the bye. Some of his struggles early in the season were excusable because he kept switching from right tackle to right guard. But now he's been at right guard for six straight games. He has just a 58.3 PFF grade in that span, and he's allowed 11 pressures.
Onwenu should be one of the Patriots' best players. With a roster that lacks offensive talent, they can't afford to see Onwenu be a weak spot.
White was averaging over four pressures per game through the first four weeks of the season. That mark has dropped to 2.56 from Week 5 on.
It's not entirely White's fault. The Patriots trail in most games, and that presents White and the rest of the pass-rushers with fewer opportunities to get after the quarterback. But White is the Patriots' best pass-rushing threat, and his 14.3 pass-rush win rate ranks 31st among qualified edge defenders.
Dugger, the sixth-highest-paid safety in the NFL by APY, returned to the defense from an ankle injury in Week 11. Since that time, he ranks last among safeties with a 30.6 grade.
The ankle injury seemed to still be bothering him in his return. But he's also struggled with communication issues in the secondary.
The bye week came at a good time for Dugger, and Jabrill Peppers is back from the commissioner's exempt list. It's possible the bye week and Peppers could cure Dugger's injury and communication issues.