Mac Jones Reveals Secret of New England Patriots Victory Over Buffalo Bills

New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones looked comfortable and efficient in the team’s upset victory over the Buffalo Bills. Can he and the Pats continue their momentum into Week 8?

FOXBORO — To say that quarterback Mac Jones and the New England Patriots were on the verge of football extinction prior to their Week 7, 29-25 victory over the Buffalo Bills would not be an understatement.

At 1-5, while facing a potential extension of a three-game losing streak (the team’s longest since 2020,) the Pats found themselves trailing the Bills 25-22 with 1:58 remaining in the game.   

For the recently much-maligned Jones, however, the mission was clear … and his focus was singular. 

“It’s all about playing for each other, playing for the guy next to you and understanding why,” Jones told reporters of his mindset on Sunday. “We did that today and we need to continue to do that every day in practice and in the games.”

Accordingly, the 25-year-old led his team on an eight-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. The Pats starter capped the drive with a one-yard touchdown pass to tight end Mike Gesicki with 12 seconds remaining, essentially icing the game for New England. Jones was 7-of-8 for 70 yards on the drive, which became only the second game-winning series of his two-plus year tenure as the Pats starting quarterback.

Despite looking uncertain and uncomfortable for virtually the entire season to date, Jones turned in his best overall performance of 2023 by getting back to basics. He ultimately finished the day going 25-of-30 for 272 yards and two touchdowns and a completion percentage of 83.3 percent — his third career game with a completion percentage of at least 80 percent. Particularly on New England's final series, Jones made faster decisions and was more precise in his pass placement.

Aside from feeling elation from what had been an elusive victory, fans and media alike were left to ponder the sudden reversal of fortune in Jones’ performance in the clutch. 

“[Bill] O’Brien,” he answered when asked about the reason for his newfound comfort in New England’s offense. “He did a great job calling a good game, and being aggressive and using things that I did in college that I really like. So, I really appreciate that.”

In order for Jones to neutralize Buffalo’s linebackers and secondary, offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien devised a game plan which allowed him to lean on the running game early to help facilitate play action passes. Though O'Brien typically has a fondness for two-tight-end sets, Jones and the Pats offense wisely mixed in some 11-personnel (one running back, one tight end, three receivers) and utilized the intermediate areas of the field to advance the ball. 

In fact, the Pats opened their first series in 11-personnel, with Jones hitting both Demario Douglas and Tyquan Thornton for short-yardage catches to set up a 14-yard run by Rhamondre Stevenson. The incremental gains eventually set up a 25-yard catch-and -run by tight end Pharaoh Brown. While the drive ended in a field goal, it served as a blueprint for Jones' improvement on offense for much of the day.

New England Patriots QB Mac Jones drops back to pass against the Buffalo Bills, 22 Oct 2023 :: (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Jones and the Patriots employed much of the same concepts throughout the afternoon to more-than satisfactory results. Due to exemplary protection from his offensive line, Jones was only under pressure on a season-best 21.9 percent of his drop-backs.

Still, the Pats third-year starter seemingly solidified his position with a confidence and determination required for success at the pro level. Jones informally shared such sentiments with reporters following the game; expressing his belief that he and the Pats would “go back down there and score” should they get the ball back with enough time remaining. As fate would have it, 1:58 was all he and the team needed. 

“I’ll always believe in myself,” Jones said, despite the erosion of support within Patriots Nation to which he has recently fallen victim. “I have a lot of confidence in myself. And I’m not going to sit up here and say it every time. But I do believe in myself. And I do that through work and all that stuff. That’s why football’s the greatest team sport. It’s the quarterback, you go as your quarterback goes. So for me, just continuing to be the same guy every day and just be Mac.”

With little time to rest on his laurels, Jones will now turn his attention to the Pats Week 8 opponents, the Miami Dolphins. Having dropped their Week 2 meeting at Gillette Stadium to the Fins, the Alabama product hopes to have better fortunes this weekend in Miami Gardens. To do so, Jones hopes to build on the progress both he and the offense made in their impressive showing against the Bills. 

“I think the schematics and stuff can change week-to-week in the NFL,” he explained. “Football is a lot about the plays but it’s more about the people. Really just getting together and playing for each other as a team. We have to do that every week. We can’t do it one week and then not the next. Really gotta flip the page and focus how we can do that this week against Miami.”

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