3 Patriots players who will make or break playoff run
By Jerry Trotta
1. Mac Jones
Wait, so you’re saying the starting quarterback will be key in determining how far his team goes in the playoffs? It seems obvious, but Mac Jones is maybe the biggest X-factor of any AFC QB that’s in contention for the tournament.
If he plays well, the Patriots become Super Bowl contenders. If he doesn’t, this group is headed for a first-round exit depending on the matchup. Based on his current form, the latter scenario is far more likely to unfold.
The fact of the matter is Jones hasn’t looked like himself since Week 12 vs Tennessee.
In that game (a 36-13 Patriots win), Jones went 23-of-32 for 310 yards and two touchdowns to zero interceptions. It was arguably his best performance of the year. In the three games since, though, he’s 42-of-80 (52.5%) for 154.3 yards and two touchdowns to four interceptions.
After Sunday’s loss, Josh McDaniels came out and refuted the idea that Jones has hit a rookie wall. It was a commendable act by the Pats’ offensive coordinator, but anyone with two functioning eyes can point out that Jones currently looks like a shell of the QB he was during the seven-game win streak.
Let’s hope the No. 15 overall pick can get back on track this weekend against the sorry Jaguars, because the Patriots are going nowhere fast in the playoffs if Jones is unable to rediscover his confidence.
