New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones took some time to reflect on his challenging 2023 season during a recent interview. The former Alabama standout expressed his confidence in bouncing back from a disappointing campaign but acknowledged feeling like he had let down the team and its fans.
Jones’ trajectory had drastically changed since his promising start in January 2022 when he earned Pro Bowl honors and was a runner-up for the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
His first season saw him start in all 17 games, and he only missed a few games in 2022 due to an ankle injury. However, in 2023, the 25-year-old quarterback had an inconsistent run as the team’s QB1.
The year began on a positive note as Jones nearly led the Patriots to an upset victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1. He completed a career-high 35 passes, amassed over 300 passing yards (316) for the fifth time in his career, and threw three touchdown passes, a feat he had achieved only four times before.
Unfortunately, his performance took a nosedive from Weeks 4 to 6, with passer ratings of 39.9, 30.5, and 75.3. During this stretch, New England struggled to score, managing just 20 points across all three games and going winless (0-3).
Jones did manage to bounce back by leading the team to an unexpected victory over the Buffalo Bills in Week 7. However, he soon entered another slump, which reached its low point when he was benched late in the game during Week 10 against the Indianapolis Colts. After the Patriots’ bye week, Jones found himself on the bench again in Week 12 during a game against the New York Giants.
In that game against the Giants, Jones went 12-for-21 for just 89 passing yards, failed to throw any touchdowns, and threw two interceptions, resulting in a dismal passer rating of 27.8, one of the lowest of his career. He was eventually replaced by Bailey Zappe, who started the remaining six games of the season. This marked the end of Jones’ season, as his snaps in the Week 12 defeat were his final moments on the field for the year.
It will be interesting to see what the offseason holds for Mac Jones. Will he be back with the Patriots or will the team opt to cut ties with him and start fresh?
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