Three Mac Jones interceptions dimmed the positives of his 321-yard passing day, as an electric Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens picked up their first-ever regular season win in Foxborough, 37-26.
The Patriots quarterback, however, has bigger problems.
As he threw his last interception, to Ravens cornerback Marcus Peters, Jones was hit by 307 lb. veteran defensive tackle Calais Campbell, who came down hard on Jones’ left leg. Jones hopped off the field on his other leg and received medical attention.
Citing team sources, Mike Giardi of the NFL Network reports "the concern/fear is that Mac Jones suffered tendon and/or ligament damage." Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports that an MRI is set for Monday.
The Patriots (1-2) have not released any details on Jones’ condition.
They were trailing by 11 points when the Peters interception effectively ended the game. Other mistakes had helped the Ravens (2-1) pull away.
Baltimore led 28-20 late in the third quarter when Jones was intercepted by linebacker Josh Bynes. The Ravens only moved the ball to the Patriots’ 38 yard line on the resulting drive, but that was close enough for the great Baltimore kicker, Justin Tucker, who converted a 56-yard field goal attempt.
Still, the game was within reach for New England. The Patriots answered with a 1-yard touchdown run by Rhamondre Stevenson to cut the Baltimore lead to 31-26 early in the fourth quarter (a two point conversion attempt failed).
Jonathan Jones then forced a Baltimore fumble and the Patriots were driving for the lead. But on third down from the Baltimore 10 yard line, Mac Jones appeared to overthrow the game’s star receiver, DeVante Parker. The ball was intercepted in the end zone by Marlon Humphrey.
Baltimore punted on the next drive, but the Patriots gave the ball back again. An impact play fell apart when Jones hit Nelson Agholor with a 30-yard pass, only to have Agholor fumble on a hit by rookie safety Kyle Hamilton.
"That guy came out of nowhere and made a great play," said Agholor, "and I hate to be on the other side of a play like that, but I have to pay respect to a guy who can make a good play like that.
Jackson then accounted for his fifth touchdown of the day (4 passing, 1 rushing), a 9-yard run, putting Baltimore up 11.
A few plays later, Campbell hit Jones, the ball was intercepted and the game was over, with a realistic chance backup QB Brian Hoyer could be the starter next week at Green Bay.
The Patriots put some early heat on Jackson, including the first of three Deatrich Wise, Jr. sacks. But, too often, the elusive quarterback slipped away. He hit his top receiver, tight end Mark Andrews, 4 times for 39 yards on a 69-yard scoring drive, including a 5-yard touchdown.
Jones threw the ball well early, hitting longballs to Parker for 31 and 40 yards. The latter set up a 35 yard field goal by Patriots kicker Nick Folk on the first play of the second quarter. That's his 57th straight successful field goal attempt from less than 50 yards, an NFL record.
Parker posted a career-type day, with 5 catches for 156 yards (31.2 avg). "Mac was just putting the ball in the right spot. I'm just in the right area at the right time."
With the Ravens up 7-3 in the second quarter and third string left tackle Daniel Faalele, a rookie, in the game (Patrick Mekari left the game with an injury), pass pressure started to result in Jackson mistakes. After Wise’s third sack of the game, Jackson forced a ball on third-and-long, resulting in a sliding interception by Jonathan Jones.
That set up a short Patriots touchdown drive capped off by Mac Jones’ first NFL rushing touchdown. He dropped back to pass, then saw the pocket open up in front of him. There was no one between him and the end zone. He walked in easily from 3 yards out. It was 10-7 Patriots, mid-second quarter.
Both teams would score in the last 30 seconds of the first half. Jackson’s scrambling ability was key to a 75-yard Ravens touchdown drive. He found Andrews (8 catches, 89 yds, 2 td) over the middle for a 16 yard touchdown pass.
With just 30 seconds to work with, Jones was able to lead the Patriots downfield, close enough to set up a 50-yard Folk field goal. Baltimore led 14-13 at the half.
The Patriots got the ball first in the second half and Jones connected with Parker on two more long throws, from 36 and 25 yards. RB Damien Harris scored on a 2 yard run to put the Patriots back in front, 20-14.
That lead didn’t last long, as Jackson hit warp speed. He led another 75-yard scoring drive, capped by his 1 yard TD pass to TE Josh Oliver. Justice Hill contributed a 34-yard run.
Patriots safety Devin McCourty says the Ravens can beat you many different ways-- most of them involving Jackson: "It's the play action, it's the threat of the QB run, the pistol formations you don't see all the time, then it's the tight end streaking across the middle."
--Perennial NFL MVP candidate Jackson threw for 218 yds., 4 td and 1 int. He also ran for 107 yds. on just 11 carries, including 1 td and a 38 yard run.
--Mac Jones completed 22 of 32 passes for 321 yards, with 3 interceptions and 3 sacks.
--The Patriots sacked Jackson 4 times in the first half (Wise 3, Matthew Judon 1), but did not sack him in the second half.
--RB J.K. Dobbins (7 rushes, 23 yards) returned to the Ravens’ lineup after missing more than a year with a major knee injury.
--The Ravens are now 1-6 in regular season play in Foxborough. They’ve won two playoff games here.
