It’s been a tough first season for coach Jerod Mayo as the Patriots fell to 3-9 after a blowout loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 12. Mayo has received a lot of criticism through the first 12 weeks between how New England has played to some of his coaching decisions.

Bill Simmons called Mayo out on X about 30 minutes into Sunday’s game for coaching “scared football.” The Patriots coach was asked about that notion Monday during his weekly appearance on WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show.”

“Yeah, I’ve heard that. My thing is I’m always going to do what I think is best in that moment in time,” he said. “Now, have there been times throughout the season where I go back and watch like, ‘Ah, I could’ve done that better?’ Absolutely.

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“I’m sure when you first started on this show, you’re a lot better now than you were on your first show,” Mayo said to Hill. “Everyone, they act like it’s not a learning experience and that growth doesn’t happen.”

The play Simmons posted about on social media referred to when Mayo elected to not go for it on 4th-and-1 from the Patriots’ own 39-yard line. He later fired off another social media post calling the game “indescribable.”

The Patriots played undisciplined football and took a total of 13 penalties — 10 accepted — in the 34-15 loss. Miami took a 24-0 lead into halftime and took advantage of New England’s sloppy defense and struggling offensive line. It was a struggle for them to get any momentum going and gave up four touchdowns and 373 total yards to the Dolphins.

Despite a tough first season thus far, Mayo believes the adversity will only help him as he continues his coaching career.

“I will be a better coach going through this adversity going forward,” he said.