Averaging 40 point at 33 games means an average of 1.21 points per game.
Averaging 41 points per season is an average of 1.07 points per game.
We are at 0.9 points per game with nearly a third of the season gone and a favourable run of games so far this season. The other points hauls you speak of were having played more games AND the more difficult teams. We are currently returning a points per game return 21% less than last season at 33 games and 15% less than the last 3 years average you mention.
Its not looking good and we can’t just think we’ll go on some sort of mini run because we have in recent seasons. Dyche may well have relied on that, but twice it never happened and he was relegated.
Personally, whilst the players aren’t great, I think the squad is slightly stronger overall.