Patriots quarterback Mac Jones threw for 316 yards and three touchdowns in New England’s season-opening loss to the Eagles on Sunday in Foxborough, Mass. Michael Dwyer/Associated Press
Quarterback Mac Jones shouldered the blame after the Patriots’ season opener after he and the offense came up short on two go-ahead opportunities late in the 25-20 loss to the Eagles.
Patriots players backed Jones after the game, in which he completed 35 of 54 passes for 316 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Coach Bill Belichick was asked about the QB’s comments and performance in a video conference call Monday morning.
“Well, look I think everybody did a lot of good things in the game,” Belichick said. “I’m sure everybody feels the same way that Mac does that if we had all done one or two things a little bit better, it could have made a difference. I’m sure everybody feels the same way that Mac does, every player and coach that participated in the game.
“That said, there were a lot of – there were positives in the game that we have to build on. But in the end, any of us could have helped a little bit more. It might have made a difference. I’m sure – I think we all know how Mac feels. We all feel the same way.”
Jones threw a pick-six on an errant pass that tipped off wide receiver Kendrick Bourne’s hands and into Eagles cornerback Darius Slay’s waiting arms. On the Patriots’ next drive, running back Ezekiel Elliott gave the ball back to the Eagles on a fumble.
Jones did go on a hot stretch in the middle of the game but said, “I felt like in the most critical times, I played my worst.”
Jones’ 316 yards were the third-highest single-game total of his career. He’s thrown for three touchdowns just four times.
GENERALLY ONE OF the NFL’s more conservative coaches on fourth down, Belichick was aggressive in Sunday afternoon’s season opener.
The Patriots went for it on fourth down four times, but only converted once, and a pair of fourth-quarter decisions opened themselves up to second guessing.
Trailing 22-14, the Patriots had a fourth-and-3 with 9:39 remaining at the Philadelphia 19-yard line. Belichick passed up a field goal. On the ensuing play, Haason Reddick got past Sidy Sow, Patriots quarterback Mac Jones had no pocket to step up into, and ultimately flung a ball at Ezekiel Elliott’s feet.
Trailing 25-20 later in the quarter, the Patriots had a fourth-and-17 with 2:24 left at the Philadelphia 48-yard line. Rather than punting with a full set of timeouts, Belichick opted to go for it. Jones’ pass to Hunter Henry fell incomplete, though it was short of the sticks regardless.
On WEEI’s Greg Hill Show on Monday morning, Belichick said he’d only second guess one of those decisions.
“Fourth-and-3 down by eight, I don’t have any regrets on that one,” Belichick said. “Fourth-and-17, looking back on it, we had three timeouts. Might have punted that one. I don’t know how much field position we would have gained, but fourth-and-17 after the delay, that was tough. Then we had our chances at the end there.”
Belichick expounded on the fourth-and-17 decision on a conference call later in the morning, and said it was more complicated after a delay of game that Jones took. Before the penalty, they would have been looking at a 60-yard field goal that Belichick still deemed too far for kicker rookie Chad Ryland.
“Look, there wasn’t a lot of field position to be gained. We could have punted it. Probably should have punted it on fourth-and-17,” Belichick said. “But we’re on their side of the 50. It’s too long for a field goal. But fourth-and-17 is a lot tougher than fourth-and-12.”
BELICHICK SAID MONDAY that the Patriots have been in contact with quarterback Matt Corral since he was placed on the exempt/left squad list Saturday afternoon.
A source told the Boston Herald that Corral left the team without notice. He didn’t practice Friday, and his absence was listed on the injury report as “not injury related.”
“He’s in exempt status,” Belichick went on to say. “I don’t have any comment on it. That’s a personal matter.”
On the exempt list, Corral doesn’t take up a spot on the 53-man roster, but no other team can sign him. The Patriots can activate him from the exempt list at any time.
The Patriots signed QB Bailey Zappe from the practice squad to the 53-man roster to serve as Mac Jones’ backup in Sunday’s loss to the Eagles. Zappe did not play in the game.
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