Mac Jones Impressed in his NFL Debut

The Patriots’ first-round draft pick with the 15th selection in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Alabama, Mac Jones, had high expectations going into his debut. Following the release of veteran Cam Newton—a move by Bill Belichick in which resulted in mixed emotions from the fanbase—Jones was named the de facto starting quarterback for New England. In the 17-16 week one loss to the Miami Dolphins, Jones posted a very respectable stat line: 29/39 with 281 passing yards, including a touchdown pass, good for a 70.6 quarterback rating (QBR).

It’s important to note that Jones did not lose the game for the Patriots—it was a crucial late fourth quarter fumble by running back Damien Harris while in Miami territory that cost New England the game. It was almost as if the turnover that was committed took away from the above-average performance by Jones.

You Can’t Help But Notice the Showing by the Miami Dolphins

One of the more compelling elements from this game was the way in which the Miami Dolphins held their composure throughout the entirety of the contest. Tua Tagovailoa, the starting quarterback for Miami, who also has faced a lot of national backlash from the way he played in his rookie season, helped lead the Dolphins’ offensive attack by converting on key third downs when it mattered most. Rookie Jaylen Waddle, who played alongside Tagovailoa at Alabama, reeled in four catches for 61 yards, including his first career touchdown reception.

Although Miami wasn’t all that impressive on the ground, they were aggressive in the passing game. DaVante Parker caught four passes for 81 yards, a player that has had great success against New England in the past. Miami’s win against the Patriots says a lot about their ascension in the AFC East—but it does not downplay the fact that they are built to compete against New England for years to come, and that is a big deal considering that the Buffalo Bills have proven that they are ready to rule the division on a consistent basis.

It Will be Interesting to See if New England’s Defense Can Stay Consistent

While the Patriots’ defense wasn’t exactly bad in Sunday’s loss to the Dolphins, but the consistency of the defensive unit will be something to watch for as the regular season moves forward. With cornerback Stephon Gilmore being on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list for at least the first six games of the season, JC Jackson has a lot on his hands in terms of being the number one corner every week until the time comes for Gilmore to return.

Also, Jalen Mills, who was signed as a free agent in the off-season, will be forced to be bumped up to number two cornerback, a role that he certainly is not used to playing. While New England’s pass rush and linebacking group appear stout, the secondary absolutely could eventually begin to look suspect.

Are You Optimistic About This Year’s Version of the New England Patriots?

After New England revamped nearly their entire roster this off-season—a $159.6 million spending spree in guaranteed money by Bill Belichick to be exact—fans of the Patriots should have high expectations for this team, and returning to the playoffs should be number one on the list of objectives after a down season in 2020. Nonetheless, this group is equipped to compete with nearly anyone in the AFC, and there are a number of tests along the way that will show just how much resiliency the team is willing to employ.