NFL Analyst Predicts Surprise MVP For Patriots

If the New England Patriots are going to make the playoffs this season, they will need strong quarterback play from potential team MVP Mac Jones.

'Hot seat' is a term thrown around in discussions about the New England Patriots heading into this season. It isn't just being used to describe the job security of coach Bill Belichick, but also for starting quarterback Mac Jones. 

Despite all of the noise surrounding the third-year quarterback, a recent article from NFL.com has projected that after a "sophomore slump," Jones will bounce back in a big way. 

Analyst Adam Rank goes as far as to predict that the former first-round pick out of Alabama will be the Patriots' team MVP this season if he can lead them to the postseason.

"If the Patriots are to win more games in 2023, they'll likely want to improve on last season's pedestrian point differential (17)," NFL.com writes. "One way for Jones to help do that is by boosting New England's performance inside the opponent's 20-yard line. The Patriots had the NFL's worst Red-Zone offense (42.2 TD percentage) in 2022 after ranking 11th in that category (61.9 percent) in 2021."

The Red Zone wasn't the only problem for the Patriots' offense last season, as they even struggled to move the chains. New England ranked 28th in the league for total first downs, big regression from the prior season when they ranked ninth.

Of course, neither of these shortcomings falls squarely on Jones's shoulders as 10 other players on the field with him contributed. Yet, new offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien will seek improvement from Jones. Interceptions were one of the problems that plagued Jones throughout his first two seasons, as evidenced by double digits in that category. 

Cutting down on turnovers and poor decision-making will undoubtedly go a long way in seeing Jones showcase the talents he did throughout his Pro Bowl rookie season.

The expectations in Foxboro are clear this season. The Patriots want to make it back to the playoffs, and they will need strong quarterback play to do it. 

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