Patriots Mac Jones proves Bill Belichick wrong in week 16

Besides the unimaginable ending to the Patriots at Raiders game dominating headlines this week, Mac Jones also remained a topic of conversation, especially after Bill Belichick’s post-game comments regarding the quarterback.

The final play was said not to have gone to plan, with multiple players and coaches stating it was meant to be a draw ending with Rhamondre Stevenson taking a knee. After the game, Belichick was asked if he considered going with a Hail Mary throw instead, which he promptly answered, claiming they “couldn’t throw it that far.”

Although he didn’t specify if he was implying that Jones was incapable of completing a deep enough pass, the assumption was his comment was slighting the quarterback’s abilities. When Jones had his chance to respond, he made it clear that a 55-yard pass would not have been too far for him, and had it been the play call; he would’ve done it.

Despite his response, however, fans and many in the media wondered if Jones had the arm strength to pull off a deep pass if needed. With or without that in mind, Jones made a few deep passes in Sunday’s loss to the Bengals that seemed to put those questions to rest.

The first example in the game came early in the third quarter. On a first-and-ten play from their own 39-yard line, Jones threw deep downfield to Tyquan Thornton, who could not secure the football for a completion. Upon the snap, Jones stepped back and threw out a pass totaling 54-air yards, around the total needed for a successful Hail Mary in last week’s game.

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The following example happened in the middle of the fourth quarter on what probably should have been a dead play. After a penalty for intentional grounding followed by a false start on Trent Brown, the Patriots found themselves dealing with a third-and-29 play.

In one of the more fluky instances in football, a deep pass from Jones, intended for Scotty Washington, bobbled out of the tight end’s hands right into Jakobi Meyers’ grasp for the touchdown. Jones was credited with a 48-yard completion, but he could be credited with more after he scrambled from defenders to make the throw, setting him back five yards from the line of scrimmage.

Outside of his short NFL career so far, Jones showed repeatedly during his playing days at Alabama that he can throw deep whenever needed. It’s possible Belichick meant nothing by his comment, referring more to the lack of protection from the offensive line rather than Jones’ abilities. But the quarterback showed he has the arm to make those throws if the play is called.