FOXBORO — There’s a phrase of unknown origin typically used in the context of seafarers that applies in reverse to the Patriots’ 2024 season as they try to dig themselves out of a 1-4 hole.

“The beatings will continue until morale improves?” No.

Morale will not improve if the beatings continue.

The Patriots’ latest loss came at the hands of an undermanned Dolphins team. That the Dolphins — without starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa — were able to come to Gillette Stadium and mount a comeback in the 15-10 Patriots loss speaks volumes about the talent level and potential of Jerod Mayo’s team.

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Speaking of seafarers, despite wondering from in-house media that the team was teetering on overtaking the ship in a “mutiny,” the Patriots’ most outspoken players were restrained while talking about the state of the locker room after Sunday’s loss.

“It’s tough. Division game, we’re 0-2 in the division. It’s tough. I can’t even express it,” defensive tackle Davon Godchaux said. “We had the game right in our hands for really all four quarters, we were in control. The last five minutes of the game got out of hand.”

If anything, players seemed more focused on being frustrated that Ja’Lynn Polk’s touchdown catch, which would have given the Patriots a 16-15 lead, was called back and ruled incomplete. Ultimately, head coach Jerod Mayo said he believed the referees made the right call.

Godchaux was signed during the 2021 offseason and has become a leader on a team that’s gone 23-33, including a postseason loss, over the last four seasons. Wide receiver Kendrick Bourne is another player who joined the Patriots in 2021. He returned from a torn ACL suffered last year in Sunday’s loss.

“It’s hard. It’s tough. Losing is tough,” Bourne said about the feeling in the locker room. “My past experience, I’ve experienced it here. And so I’m just trying to help be better. Everybody is trying to be better. It just sucks losing.”

Center Nick Leverett and safety Jaylinn Hawkins, both thrust into starting roles Sunday due to injuries, are new to the team.

Leverett started in place of David Andrews, who’s out for the season with a shoulder injury.

“We’re not panicking,” Leverett said of his position group. “We’re just jelling right now. We’re syncing. You’ve got five guys at new positions.”

The Patriots had new starters at every position Sunday from Week 4. Only Demontrey Jacobs and Mike Onwenu started in both games, but they played different positions.

Hawkins started in place of Jabrill Peppers and Kyle Dugger, both of whom were out with injuries. Marte Mapu, who returned off of injured reserve, was the other top safety.

“We just gotta stick together. Stick together and keep going. That’s the main thing. Obviously, the outcome wasn’t what we wanted, so there’s nothing we can do about that. No pointing fingers, it’s just looking ourselves in the mirror and just get better. That’s it. That’s the model when you win or lose. You gotta have that even-keeled mindset and keep going. It’s still early.”

Running back Antonio Gibson is another first-year Patriot who was pushed into a starting role, which was due to Rhamondre Stevenson having fumbled in four straight games.

“That’s a tough one,” Gibson said when asked about the mood of the locker room. “It’s not the best right now. But you know, we come in tomorrow and we prepare for next week.”

The Patriots beat the Bengals in Week 1 and were competitive in a difficult Week 2 matchup against the Seahawks. They were blown out by the Jets and 49ers in subsequent weeks and had a chance to go on a run starting Sunday with winnable games against the Dolphins, Jaguars, Titans and Bears over a six-week period.

Godchaux wants to focus on one game at a time, but he can’t help but start looking ahead at how the team can get back to a .500 record.

“Confidence is still high. It’s a long season. It’s tough to come back from 1-4, but you’ve got to take it one game at a time,” Godchaux said. “You can’t look ahead at the schedule. You gotta look at the next opponent, which is Houston, which is a great team. C.J. Stroud’s playing great. You gotta take it one game at a time.

“If you look ahead, that’s when it gets kind of depressing. Like, damn, we got three games to win to get back to .500. Just gotta take it one game at a time. Every game is winnable. It’s the NFL. Cincinnati almost beat Baltimore today. Jacksonville won today. Every game is winnable. It’s the NFL. Just gotta keep it going.”