Despite competing 66% of his pass attempts for 316 yards and two touchdowns in the Patriots’ 25-20 Week 1 loss to the Eagles on Sunday afternoon, quarterback Mac Jones took complete blame for the defeat:
Boomer Esiason encouraged by Mac Jones' Week 1 play
I really didn't throw any good passes on the first drive, so definitely a slow start,” No. 10 said of his performance against Philly to open up the season. “It starts with me. Just got to watch the tape and clean it up, but definitely felt like we fought hard. Rookies played really well. The offensive line played really well. The skill players played really well. So, definitely let the team down tonight. Couldn't score early, and we just fell behind because of me, and I put it on myself."
Jones solid game overall and showed command of his new offense run by new coordinator Bill O'Brien. Jones did, however, have one costly turnover - an interception that cornerback Darius Slay returned all the way to the end zone for a touchdown.
That one I threw too high,” Jones explained of the mistake. “And the rain was -- that's going to happen. It was a bad throw.”
Said interception was intended for Jones’ leading receiver on Sunday, Kendrick Bourne, who caught six passes for 64 yards and two touchdowns in the loss. After the game, Jones called the pass catcher his “go-to guy”:
"KB is one of my closest friends, and I know that he is going to run as hard as he can on every play and fight for the ball, and our receivers have been doing that very well," said Jones on his relationship and rapport with the pass catcher. "He kept fighting, and I know that about KB. We've kind of been in these situations far too often where we're behind, and I know that's my go-to guy and the other guys, too, they were all open at some point in the game, and we just have to hit them, and sometimes we did, and the line gave us great time all night, so that was never an issue.”
Like many of his teammates during Sunday's loss, Jones made his fair share of mistakes - but the defeat was not solely on him. Errors were made all across the board and while it’s fair to have some leniency as the team resets following a disastrous 2022, time is ticking for the New England and Jones' marriage - and it's coming about time for them to turn promise into wins. The signal caller sounds ready to turn the tide:
"I felt like in the most critical times, I played my worst so I just have to go back and look and see what I can do about either better. All you can do is learn. That's what you do as a good quarterback. You go back and learn."
Make sure to follow Mike on Twitter @mikekadlick, and follow @WEEI for the latest up-to-date Patriots and Boston sports news!
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