The Mac Jones experiment with the New England Patriots continues to be an unmitigated disaster. Taking on another bottom feeding team on the road in that of the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, New England fell by the score of 21-17.
The Patriots were down 19-17 late in the fourth quarter and was facing 3rd-and-15 from its own four yard line. That’s when Jones took a safety following a sack from Raiders star edge rusher Maxx Crosby.
Protection did not hold up in front of Jones. But he needs to recognize what the situation was. Taking a sack down by two and with less than two minutes remaining just isn’t acceptable.
For his part, embattled Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was extremely frustrated after Jones took that sack.
We already know about the drama that has unfolded in New England this season. That included Jones being benched in each of the past two games, both blowout losses for the Patriots. He was not much better Sunday against a questionable Raiders defense.
Mac Jones stats (Week 6): 24-of-33 passing, 200 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT
It was noted earlier on Sunday that the Patriots could have an early hook as it related to Jones. While that did not happen, his status as QB1 is still very much up in the air.
“Yeah, that’s what I always think about. Why aren’t they there? Keep grinding away. It might take a little bit of time. But keep grinding. It might not happen the next day,” Mac Jones ahead of Week 6. “Work hard. It might take a year or so to get to where you want to be. But that’s something that’s hard, because, I really want it to be good right now. So, continuing on the process is my kinda thing.”
Jones has now accounted for five touchdowns and nine giveaways through the first six games of the season. This came after a terrible sophomore season for the former Alabama star (14 TD, 11 INT).
As for the Patriots, they have now started 1-5 for the first time since 1995.