Patriots: Mac Jones getting destroyed by Randy Gregory was scary
It’d really be great if we didn’t have to write any more articles about New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones getting hit sticked by opposing defenses, but the offensive line just hasn’t been the force everyone was expecting it to be.
Injuries and COVID absences have plagued the unit so far this season and Jones has been affected the most thanks to constant pressure and hits like you’ve never seen before.
A few weeks ago on Sunday Night Football we saw Jones nearly get killed by Buccaneers linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and the same almost happened during the Pats’ Week 6 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.
Somehow, defensive end Randy Gregory got a free run at Jones and speared him for a strip-sack that got the Cowboys the ball back.
I think Mac Jones takes the hardest sacks in the NFL. He always gets obliterated. pic.twitter.com/o25l6EPNuH
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) October 17, 2021
How many more hard hits can Patriots QB Mac Jones take?
Even worse was the fact this was the first play after the Patriots had a Jakobi Meyers receiving touchdown called back due to a holding penalty. This went from a 20-7 Patriots lead to a 14-10 Patriots lead after Dallas used the short field to cash in with a field goal.
Jones has now been sacked 12 times and hit 29 times in the team’s first five and a half games … and far too many of those have been of the Gregory variety.
Alabama may get a guy ready for NFL better than any other school but nothing at Alabama or anywhere else could have prepared Mac Jones for the hit he just took.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) October 17, 2021
This is the organization’s franchise quarterback and he simply cannot be taking this many destructive hits in his rookie season. Then again, it’s admirable Jones has been able to remain fearless in the pocket, still going through his reads and delivering strikes, going 7-of-7 for 100 yards and a touchdown in the first half.
The Patriots’ defense has upheld their end of the bargain, forcing two turnovers in the red zone and holding the Cowboys to 10 first-half points despite Dallas out-gaining New England 2535 to 128. Let’s get a semblance of protection in the second half so the Pats can run away with this.
