The New England Patriots and Mac Jones will host the Miami Dolphins at the moment at Gillette Stadium. Each groups are nonetheless within the hunt for a postseason spot. Jones’ season two because the Patriots’ first-choice quarterback hasn’t precisely gone to plan, however he is nonetheless anticipated to start out at the moment in opposition to the Dolphins.
Most of his statistics have decreased this 12 months, together with his completion share, yards gained on every try and his passer ranking (which has dropped from 92.5 to 84.6 for the 12 months).
Jones not too long ago got here below hearth for an unlawful block on Cincinnati Bengals defender Eli Apple. The transfer was seen as soiled and extremely pointless given the place it occurred along with the ball.
This can be a vastly necessary AFC East rivalry sport with playoff implications and the Patriots must win it by any means needed. Mac Jones merely has to step up and maintain nothing again right here, as a loss could be disastrous for his or her postseason ambitions.
Can Mac Jones nonetheless assist the Patriots qualify for the playoffs?
Regardless of dropping 4 of their previous 5 video games, the New England Patriots nonetheless have a shot at making the playoffs after the Miami Dolphins’ late-season meltdown. At this time, the Dolphins will attempt to snap a four-game winless skid and take a step in the direction of securing a postseason berth.
This marketing campaign, Mac Jones has repeatedly been inconsistent together with his dropbacks as opponents have swarmed him at an astounding fee. As a result of stress, his precision has suffered, and his selections have been questionable.
The 24-year-old has underperformed in virtually each side of the sport this season in comparison with his debut season.
Among the most blatant are the dips in landing share (from 4.2 to 2.4), completion share (from 67.6 to 65.6), adjusted yards per try (from 7.0 to six.4), and quarterback ranking (from 92.5 to 85.6). Moreover, whereas having fewer tried and profitable air yards than he did in 2021, the previous first-round choose is spreading the ball much less now.
After dropping their earlier two video games, Jones and New England will enter this sport trying to determine their identification. Mac Jones has not carried out in addition to the rookie who was chosen for the Professional Bowl in 2021/22 and that has to alter right here.
There’s trigger to imagine the Patriots will take substantial steps to treatment the problem earlier than the beginning of the 2023 season, however this marketing campaign just isn’t over but.
To be eligible for the postseason, the Patriots want to return out on prime of their last two outings (they play the Buffalo Payments on the highway in Week 18). It is tougher than it sounds, with these two sides being very robust. Nonetheless, with Tua Tagovailoa as soon as once more within the concussion protocol, the Patriots will fancy their probabilities at the moment.