The Patriots have three games remaining in their tumultuous 2022 and it’s unclear, at the moment whether Mac Jones will be the quarterback the rest of the way.
During his Wednesday afternoon press conference Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was asked whether “the plan” is to stick with Mac Jones at QB to which Belichick responded. “The plan is to try to beat Cincinnati.”
Jones is coming off one of, if not the worst statistical performances of his Patriots career last Sunday against the Raiders. The second year QB completed 13 of 31 passes for 112 yards. Jones averaged less than 4 yards an attempt and did not throw a touchdown pass for the 5th time in 11 starts this season.
This is the second perceived shot across the bow from Bill to Mac in the last few days. On Sunday Belichick said that Jones didn’t have the arm strength to attempt a last second Hail Mary against the Raiders. Belichick was however effusive in his praise of the QB who will be on the other sideline this Saturday, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.
“First of all, he’s tough. He’s a tough kid. He’ll stand in there, throw the ball, take a hit to make a play. Accurate. Tough to tackle. Manages the game well, sees the game well. …He’s impressive… Makes all the throws.”
Burrow is a stud no doubt. But the contrast between those comments and the lack of commitment to the team’s franchise quarterback was noteworthy and one might even surmise, intentional.
While Jones has been far from great this season, the Patriots problems run much deeper. The offensive line has been among the league’s worst (though the protection was solid last Sunday) and the offensive coaching has been a well documented and publicized disaster.
I wrote earlier this season that something needs to change on offense before the end of this season:
It doesn’t necessarily have to be Bill Belichick – but something has to change.
As I said above, New England held a playoff spot heading into this weekend – and you wouldn’t even know it if you watched them today. Stupid mistakes, false starts, and more inept play calling made it seem like they didn’t even want to be there.
Something major doesn’t just have to change going into 2023, it has to happen before the end of 2022. The fact that they just keep ramming their heads against the wall offensively is embarrassing and it gives me no reason they even want to fight for the postseason the rest of the way.
When I wrote this, I did not mean the quarterback. But based off today’s press conference it appears Bill Belichick may have different ideas.
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