New England Patriots QB Mac Jones Again Disastrous in Loss To Indianapolis Colts: Rock Bottom?
The season from Hell for the New England Patriots and quarterback Mac Jones continued in full force on Sunday morning.
Despite a change in setting to the cozy confines of Frankfurt Stadium in Germany, it wasn't enough to break the season-long funk as they lost 10-6 in an absolute snoozefest. If one was looking for offensive prowess, this game was the last place to find it.
While the Colts' offense was by no means good, the Patriots' was downright putrid, like it has been most of the year. New England's ground game wasn't too bad, with an average of 4.6 yards per carry, but the play of quarterback Mac Jones held the team back once again.
The struggling signal-caller had yet another forgettable day, completing 15 of 20 passes for 170 yards and an interception. That doesn't sound too terrible statistically, but the tape isn't as kind to him. Specifically, that interception came on a horrific underthrow late in the fourth quarter, made all the worse by the fact that Mike Gesicki was wide open in the end zone. The fact that Jones was sacked a season-high five times in the first half alone didn't help his case either.
To cap off a terrible game, Jones was benched for Bailey Zappe on the Patriots' final possession, and the backup proceeded to throw an interception into triple coverage that ended the game. This marks the third time this season alone that Jones has been benched during a game.
Jones' play certainly upset many both in and outside the Patriots organization. Cameras captured offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien yelling at his quarterback on the sideline, an inverse of some of Jones' interactions last season. Additionally, NFL fans tore him apart after the game.
"Do you know how bad a pass has to be for it to be Mac Jones' worst pass?" an X user posted after Jones' interception.
Jones was not having a good season by any means, but this game may just be the final nail in the coffin. With the Patriots currently holding a top-five draft pick and many mocks predicting them to take a new quarterback, the clock is almost certainly ticking on Jones' time in New England.