Patriots’ coaches, gamers united behind QB Mac Jones – New England Patriots Weblog

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones is popping the web page to Sunday’s sport towards the visiting Indianapolis Colts, as he returns to play at Gillette Stadium for the primary time since house followers had been chanting for backup Bailey Zappe to exchange him in Week 7.

Calling it powerful love from the paying clients may be too sort, however one factor has turn out to be clear in latest days throughout the staff’s locker room: Whereas a vocal phase of followers may want Zappe, coaches and gamers are united in rallying behind Jones.

That a lot was clear within the aftermath of Sunday’s 22-17 win over the New York Jets when Belichick sought out Jones for an embrace, then the 2 did one thing related within the tunnel earlier than boarding the buses to depart MetLife Stadium.

“I believed Mac did a pleasant job,” Belichick stated Monday after having an opportunity to evaluation the sport during which Jones completed 24 of 35 for 194 yards, with 1 TD and 1 INT, whereas including 4 rushes for 25 yards (not together with kneel-downs).

“We had strain on fairly a couple of move performs, greater than we want, for certain. I believed he made good selections and needed to pull the ball down a pair instances and make some key runs for us. … I believed he gave us a number of good performs.”

Sunday was an necessary, but imperfect, day for Jones to begin constructing momentum after a rocky begin to the season, adopted by a three-game absence after struggling a excessive left ankle sprain, then a three-series cameo final Monday evening during which followers referred to as for Zappe.

Belichick cited Jones’ toughness Sunday and added: “He managed our staff effectively. That’s what a quarterback’s job is to do — to assist the staff win. That’s what he did.”

Jones lived on the sting at instances with a couple of questionable throws and was working for his life at different instances as a result of shaky safety towards a powerful Jets defensive entrance. He acknowledged there have been instances he might have thrown the ball sooner to keep away from a sack (he was dropped six instances).

The Patriots managed only one landing, to pair with 5 Nick People subject targets, with Jones saying: “We did sufficient to place factors up, however we need to do higher. And we are going to.”

Jones’ remarks spotlight what seems to be a concerted effort to wipe the slate clear from his difficult begin to the season when frustrations generally bubbled to the floor.

“There’s clearly issues you may management, and for me, it’s simply my angle and energy, being teammate and exhibiting up and making an attempt to guide the blokes,” he stated.

Teammates see it too.

“He seemed able to go, man. Clearly, you understand what occurred final week [33-14 loss to the Chicago Bears],” receiver Kendrick Bourne stated.

Jones stated Sunday that members of the offense “did further issues to come back collectively as a staff” main into the sport, which he believes should proceed to occur so as to produce higher outcomes.

“I believed the method is there. I’m simply tremendous blissful to be part of this and need to proceed to develop right here,” he stated.

Receiver Jakobi Meyers stated final week that listening to house followers cheering for Zappe was “powerful as a person to see any person who labored so laborious get that form of remedy.” He as soon as once more had Jones’ again on Sunday

Now, an improved efficiency Sunday towards lockdown cornerback Stephon Gilmore and the 3-4-1 Colts (1 p.m. ET, CBS), earlier than heading into the Nov. 13 bye, is the purpose.

“I wouldn’t say simply Mac. It wasn’t simply him on the market making an attempt to suit items of the puzzle collectively,” Meyers stated. “All of us form of needed to come collectively, block higher, run routes higher, get open higher for him, defend him. It doesn’t all fall on him.”