Patriots
Jones threw a back-breaking interception on the Patriots’ penultimate drive, inflicting him to be benched for the third time this season.
Mac Jones discovered himself on the bench for the third time this season within the Patriots’ 10-6 loss to the Colts, resulting in additional questions on his future in New England.
Bailey Zappe’s quantity was referred to as upon for the Patriots’ ultimate drive after they received the ball again at their very own 14-yard line. The second-year quarterback wasn’t capable of pull by, throwing an interception that sealed the sport. However not like the opposite two instances Jones was benched, Invoice Belichick didn’t infer that Jones could be beginning at quarterback within the Patriots’ subsequent sport, saying he’d take care of the scenario “subsequent week.”
When requested if he felt that Belichick nonetheless had perception in him, Jones mentioned that he must do extra to ensure that others to imagine in him, earlier than saying he was uncertain how his coach felt.
“On the finish of the day, I’ve received to play higher,” Jones instructed reporters. “So, to make individuals imagine, you’ve received to be higher. I’m unsure. I don’t know.”
The Patriots’ determination to tug Jones got here a lot later Sunday than it did the earlier two instances. Jones performed a comparatively clear sport for a lot of the day, finishing 15 of 19 passes for 170 yards with no touchdowns however no turnovers, both.
Proper because the Patriots seemed like they have been lastly going to succeed in the tip zone, although, Jones made a monumental gaffe. On second-and-12 from the Colts’ 15-yard line, with simply over 4 minutes remaining, it appeared that Jones was about to have Mike Gesicki large open in the long run zone to take the lead.
However Jones underthrew the tight finish by a number of yards, throwing the ball proper to Colts security Julian Blackmon for Jones’s league-leading tenth interception of the season.
Jones took full accountability for the play.
“It was a horrible throw,” Jones mentioned. “Practiced it, hit it in apply, snugged the throw, and I knew the place to go. I simply didn’t do it. Didn’t do it proper.”
Jones instructed reporters after the sport that he “received slightly bruised,” however mentioned that he was “good.” Nonetheless, he appeared to indicate that one thing may need been hassle him when requested if the error was a mechanical subject.
“Yeah. There have been some issues I used to be working by,” Jones mentioned. “Nevertheless it doesn’t matter. No excuses.”
Jones discovered shortly after that his day was achieved, saying the teaching workers simply merely mentioned he “was out of the sport.” Jones mentioned he “was enjoying superb,” both, seemingly understanding the teaching workers’s determination.
“It’s onerous, proper? It’s a tough scenario,” Jones mentioned when requested what his response was to being pulled. “On the finish of the day, I actually did need the workforce to win. I’ll at all times be that individual. I do know that we didn’t win, so it’s onerous for everyone.
“I’ve to play higher and never even be in that scenario. It’s not ideally suited for anyone. Nobody goes to do good in that scenario.”
Regardless that the interception was Jones’s first main blunder Sunday, the teaching workers didn’t appear to be too pleased with him not less than one different time. New England wasn’t capable of flip Myles Bryant’s interception at midfield right into a landing at the beginning of the second half, with Jones lobbing the ball to Rhamondre Stevenson as he was being taken down on a third-down play.
Jones received the ball off simply in time to not be sacked, although the ill-advised throw saved him from being sacked for the sixth time on the day and for the fifth time on a third-down play. As he returned to the sideline, the NFL Community broadcast confirmed offensive coordinator Invoice O’Brien berating him whereas the 2 have been going over a play.
Jones gave some perception on what O’Brien was telling him earlier than taking accountability for his errors.
“Simply attempt to undergo my reads and hit the open man,” Jones mentioned on what O’Brien was telling him. “I’ve received to do a greater job at that. It’s actually onerous within the NFL. It’s actually good protection, however there have been loads of open guys on the market that I may’ve hit.”
The Patriots will enter their Week 11 bye nonetheless sitting in final place within the AFC with a 2-8 report after Sunday. Jones mentioned that he nonetheless has perception in himself, acknowledging that he has issues he’s “received to repair and be taught” as he’s thrown for two,031 yards and 10 touchdowns, together with the ten picks this season.
As Jones mentioned he’ll “use the bye week to guage myself, the workforce, and all the pieces I can do higher,” although there appears to be a risk that Jones threw his ultimate move with the Patriots on Sunday. Whilst he nonetheless has perception in himself, Jones is aware of that Sunday’s loss and benching felt “slightly bit” totally different from the opposite ones this season.
“Similar to I mentioned, didn’t play very properly,” Jones mentioned. “I’ve performed properly in my profession earlier than, however simply not proper now. It’s peaks and valleys, however I’m form of in a valley proper now and simply received to bounce again.”
Join Patriots updates🏈
Get breaking information and evaluation delivered to your inbox throughout soccer season.
