Mac Jones’s efficiency was the worst in Patriots historical past

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By unemotional, goal, analytical measures, Mac Jones’s efficiency within the Patriots’ 10-6 loss to the Colts Sunday was not near the worst sport by a quarterback in franchise historical past.

With the analysis help of pro-football-reference.com and its superior Stathead function, the worst passing efficiency in Patriots historical past – by lowest quarterback ranking, with 5 accomplished passes because the baseline — was by Don Trull in a 44-16 loss to the Payments on Dec. 9, 1967.

He went 5 of 20 for 57 yards and three interceptions, for a QB ranking of 0.0, which I imagine Shaughnessy would name the Full Blutarsky. Poor Don Trull was changed by Babe Parilli, who went 2 for 9 for 67 yards, a landing, and three picks.

There have been many different brutal performances by quarterbacks each obscure and legendary in Patriots lore. Jeff Carlson — who was mainly the 1992 model of Bailey Zappe — went 7 for 20 for 67 yards and two interceptions in a 20-10 loss to the Bengals on Dec. 20 of that misplaced season, for a 4.2 QB ranking. Jim Plunkett had 5 of the 25 worst video games by quarterback ranking in Patriots historical past, and Steve Grogan had 4. Drew Bledsoe had an 18.2 ranking after throwing 4 interceptions and no touchdowns in a November 1994 loss to the Browns, who had a really acquainted coach.

Awful video games occur to each quarterback, even soccer immortals. Your guess on Tom Brady’s worst might be appropriate: the 2003 They Hate Their Coach season-opening 31-0 loss to the Payments, when he threw 4 picks with no TD go. From what I perceive, he avenged it after which some.

Now, with requisite historical past and context apart . . . and by all emotional, subjective, unscientific measures . . . Jones’s efficiency Sunday was the worst I’ve ever seen from a Patriots quarterback. His first-half numbers (10 of 11, 105 yards) had been advantageous, although padded by a 30-yard dump off to Demario Douglas when they need to have tried a Hail Mary on the ultimate play. However within the second half, he was so stunningly dangerous — in execution and decision-making — that it felt like we had been watching the unofficial finish of his Patriots profession.

Jones made three actually inexcusable performs: a no-look fling to Rhamondre Stevenson on third and three on the Colts’ 17 halfway by way of the third quarter, which resulted in offensive coordinator Invoice “Teapot” O’Brien tearing into him on the sideline; an alley-ooped third-and-5 throw to Hunter Henry that Colts defensive again Julian Blackmon dropped in the long run zone; and — in what needed to be the worst throw of his Patriots profession, no hyperbole — a soft-toss on to Blackmon with Mike Gesicki steps past him and large open in the long run zone.

He was benched for Zappe for the ultimate drive. Jones’s last numbers – 15 for 20, 170 yards, one choose, 79.2 ranking — weren’t terrible. However the efficiency was. It wasn’t that way back that it appeared he was the reply at quarterback for the Patriots, a modern-day Chad Pennington. Now? Jones makes me respect the Tony Eason years. His finest soccer life could be as a reclamation undertaking for a crew that has a starter significantly better than he’s. End up the lights, as a result of the get together is over for him right here.

Some additional ideas, upon instant evaluation . . .

Three gamers who had been value watching

Gamers instructed within the Unconventional Preview: Jonathan Taylor, Rhamondre Stevenson, Kenny Moore.

Rhamondre Stevenson: It’s time to declare him formally again to his 2022 kind. After working for 87 yards – together with a 64-yard landing burst — on simply 9 carries within the loss to the Commanders final Sunday, Stevenson took on a heavier workload this week and gained 88 yards on 20 carries. He was particularly spectacular on a drive that started with slightly below six minutes left within the third quarter and carried into the fourth, when he had three runs of 8 yards every and one other for 9. Arguably his most spectacular run got here upfront of Jones’s interception, when he rammed his method for six yards on third and 5 with 5:40 left within the sport, giving the Patriots a primary down on the Colts 13. Stevenson now has 482 dashing yards this season – 175 the previous two weeks. It’s truly not out of the query he reaches 1,000 yards for the second straight 12 months.

Demario Douglas: The promising rookie receiver had his most efficient sport but, making six catches for 84 yards on 9 targets. A giant chunk of his yardage got here on the aforementioned 30-yard dump off proper earlier than halftime, however even with out that play he would have been far and away the Patriots’ main receiver. He could have made a few damaging errors, although. He seemed to be caught in no-man’s land because the returner on Colts punter Rigoberto Sanchez’s 69-yard boot that bounced on the Patriots’ 37-yard-line and rolled to the 18. And on Rodney Thomas’s interception that thwarted the Patriots’ determined last drive, quarterback Bailey Zappe’s response appeared to point that his goal, Douglas, wasn’t the place he was presupposed to be.

Dayo Odeyingbo: Anybody predict this man as their participant of the sport? Didn’t suppose so. However he positive made a case. The Colts’ third-year defensive finish entered with three sacks this season. He doubled that whole lower than 18 minutes into the sport. Two of his sacks got here on third down, together with his first on the Patriots’ promising opening possession, after they needed to accept a 37-yard Chad Ryland area purpose.

Grievance of the sport

It must be Jones’s interception that obtained him benched. There have been different choices — JuJu Smith-Schuster had a pair of penalties earlier than the snap, which is unacceptable — however nothing as egregious or impactful on the result of this sport and, for that matter, the path of the franchise.

Three notes scribbled within the margins

Predicted rating: Colts 31, Patriots 17

Closing rating: Colts 10, Patriots 6

Isaiah McKenzie, who torched the Patriots for 11 catches for 125 yards and a landing in a 2021 sport whereas he was with the Payments, stays a nuisance. He hauled in a 30-yard catch on third down on the Colts’ first possession, and later returned a kickoff 42 yards . . . The Patriots protection did a decent job containing Jonathan Taylor. The Colts again ran 9 occasions for 31 yards on their first collection, punctuating it with a 2-yard landing run on fourth down. However he gained simply 38 yards on 14 carries after that drive . . . Bryce Baringer averaged 62.5 yards on 4 punts, together with a 79-yarder. Any probability he can play quarterback?

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