QB corner: Mac Jones falls short once again

FOXBOROUGH – Last week, Mac Jones was part of the reason the Patriots had a chance to beat the Eagles in the home opener. He was also part of the reason they didn’t close the deal.

The Patriots quarterback held himself accountable after the game for failing to score the go-ahead touchdown after the defense gave him two opportunities to make it happen late in the game.

Jones knows he needs to get over the hurdle, and be better when it comes to delivering in critical situations.

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With Miami in town for a key division showdown, and former Alabama teammate Tua Tagovailoa on the opposite sideline, Jones was once again put to the test. In a replay of last week, he had a chance to make something happen late in the game.

Once again, he fell short.

What can be said about his performance in the 24-17 loss to the Dolphins?

Here’s the rundown: Just like last week, Mac Jones had to make something happen with a banged up offensive line (Trent Brown, Sidy Sow out), and a running game that continued to struggle for yards, even though the Dolphins allowed 233 rushing yards to the Chargers last week.

So basically, it was on Jones to generate offense. He needed to put points on the board to hang with an explosive Dolphins offense.

Jones played well enough, it just didn’t happen.

Much like last week, Jones hung in there, and made enough plays to keep the Patriots in the game. But once again, he couldn’t finish the job.

The Patriots certainly made it interesting in the fourth quarter, drawing to within a score, and literally falling a yard short of giving themselves a shot when Mike Gesicki caught a fourth-down-pass and lateraled to lineman Cole Strange, who came up a yard short.

Bottom line: Managing just 17 points isn’t going to cut it against the Dolphins, much less anyone else. They scored just 20 the previous week.

Jones did what he could, scrambling, escaping the pocket to make plays. But there was also one costly miscue that hurt the cause.

Down by a two-touchdown deficit heading into the third quarter, the special teams blocked a Miami field goal attempt, giving Jones the ball at the Dolphins 49-yard line.

They moved to the 22, before Jones delivered a pick. He threw a ball up down the right side line for DeVante Parker, only Xavien Howard intercepted it at the three-yard line.

Turnover.

To that point, Jones had played a clean game.

To his credit, after the defense forced a punt, Jones went back to work.

He engineered an 8-play, 58-yard scoring drive, culminating with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Henry. Jones rolled right, and hit Henry in the end zone with 11:21 to play.

Jones had kept the drive alive with an 18-yard run.

The defense immediately got the ball back, with a highlight-reel interception from rookie Christian Gonzalez, who lept in front of Tyreek Hill to make the play.

The result? Three-and-out. Jones was sacked for a 10-yard-loss, with right tackle Calvin Anderson, who struggled all game, once again getting beat.

Still, Jones hung in there, and put together one more scoring drive to come within seven points with 5:25 to play.

The defense held the Dolphins on 4th down (much like they did the Eagles last week), to give Jones one last crack. On a fourth-down and 5, the Patriots couldn’t convert.

Game over.

In the loss, Jones completed 31 of 42 passes for 231 yards, with one pick, and one TD pass. He was sacked four times for 31 yards.

Just like last week, Jones and the offense got off to a woefully slow start. Unlike last week, none of it was his Jones’ doing.

On the opening drive, Jones & Co. moved the ball into Miami territory, only a 2nd-and-12 turned into 3rd-and-forever after the left side of line (Vederian Lowe, Cole Strange) caved in, with the 9-yard sack derailing a nice opening drive.

The second drive? Jones hit Pop Douglas, who made a nice move for 10-yard-gain, but Bradley Chubb popped the ball loose, and it proved a killer turnover for the Patriots.

One step forward, two steps back. That pretty much sums up Jones and the offense in the first half.

The Patriots did manage to get into position for a field goal before the half, but they were staring at a 17-3 deficit.

Jones’ numbers were fine. He was 14-for-18 for 95 yards. With a none-existent running game (13 carries, 30 yards) in the first half, and Jones constantly under pressure, it was hardly the recipe for success.

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