The New England Patriots suffered a 30-point loss for the season straight week. A week after getting hammered 38-3 by the Dallas Cowboys, Bill Belichick’s team got shut out 34-0 at home by the New Orleans Saints.
Like last week against the Cowboys, quarterback Mac Jones got pulled with the game no longer in doubt.
After a promising rookie season in 2021, Jones has struggled mightily over the past two seasons. Sure, Belichick’s call to hand over the offense to Matt Patricia and Joe Judge last year stunted Jones’s growth. But this year was supposed to be a bounce-back season for the third-year quarterback with Bill O’Brien as the offensive coordinator.
However, that’s not been the case for Mac Jones.
Jones has regressed even within this season. Week 1, he threw for 316 yards and three touchdowns. Since then, his output has lessened week-to-week from 231, 201, 150, and 110 yards Sunday against New Orleans. He’s thrown a combined two touchdowns in the last four games.
He has zero touchdown passes and four interceptions, including two pick-sixes, over the past two games.
Patriots must address their Mac Jones problem
The Patriots have a quarterback problem, something the team didn’t worry about the 20 years Tom Brady was under center or the nine years prior with Drew Bledsoe. It’s time for Belichick to evaluate the situation.
New England is 1-4 on the season. While next year’s draft class of quarterbacks is loaded, Belichick may be coaching for his job in Foxboro four years removed from Brady.
The Patriots haven’t been used to losing like this since 2001. Even if the playoffs are out of reach, New England must close the season with some respectability. This current version of the Patriot Way isn’t flying for its fan base.
Jacoby Brissett is the veteran Belichick, Jones need
No, benching Mac Jones for Bailey Zappe may not be the answer. The Patriots released Zappe during final cuts before the season only to bring him back on the practice squad and later the active roster.
The answer may reside with the Washington Commanders in former Patriots QB Jacoby Brissett. The veteran journeyman is currently backing up Sam Howell with the Washington Commanders.
Brissett played his rookie season with the Patriots, filling in for a suspended Brady during DeflateGate. He got traded to the Indianapolis Colts the following season and started in place of the injured Andrew Luck.
Brissett has started 48 games in his career, including 11 last season for the Cleveland Browns in place of a suspended Deshaun Watson. Brissett signed a one-year deal with the Commanders to “compete” with Howell for the starting position. However, it became evident early on that Howell was cemented as the starter.
Howell has had the ups and downs expected for a quarterback who entered the season with one career start. Yet, he has played well in convincing many onlookers that he may be Washington’s quarterback of the future.
The Commanders can afford to offload Brissett
Brissett has been instrumental in Howell’s development. However, the Commanders are 2-3, and while looking to get their season back on track, offloading an asset for some draft capital goes a long way for the team long-term.
The Patriots need a mentor and significant threat that may steer Jones on the right path. The Commanders can afford to move on from Brissett. Washington has Jake Fromm on their practice squad. Fromm looked good in preseason, and his progression in the Burgundy and Gold over the past two seasons has changed the tractory of his pro career.
Brissett has awareness, pocket presence, and the mobility to negate some of the struggles of the Patriots’ lethargic offense. Jones is a standing statue in the pocket. He lacks the mobility to get on the edge to run or buy time to get rid of the football.
Jones isn’t overcoming the lack of talent and schematic creativity within New England’s offense. Brissett would be an improvement in those areas.
The Oct. 31 NFL trade deadline is nearing. Belichick will be inclined to address the quarterback position somehow. Why not pick up the phone and call the Commanders about Brissett?
