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 in opposition to the visiting Indianapolis Colts, as he returns to play at Gillette Stadium for the primary time since residence followers have been chanting for backup Bailey Zappe to exchange him in Week 7.

Calling it powerful love from the paying prospects is perhaps too form, however one factor has turn out to be clear in latest days inside the group’s locker room: Whereas a vocal phase of followers may desire 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 comparable within the tunnel earlier than boarding the buses to depart MetLife Stadium.

“I assumed Mac did a pleasant job,” Belichick stated Monday after having an opportunity to evaluation the sport wherein 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 stress on fairly a number of cross performs, greater than we wish, for certain. I assumed he made good selections and needed to pull the ball down a pair instances and make some key runs for us. … I assumed he gave us a number of good performs.”

Sunday was an necessary, but imperfect, day for Jones to start out 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 night time wherein followers referred to as for Zappe.

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

Jones lived on the sting at instances with a number of questionable throws and was operating for his life at different instances on account of shaky safety in opposition to a powerful Jets defensive entrance. He acknowledged there have been instances he may 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’ll.”

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

“There’s clearly issues you possibly can management, and for me, it’s simply my perspective and energy, being a superb teammate and displaying up and attempting to guide the blokes,” he stated.

Teammates see it too.

“He regarded able to go, man. Clearly, you recognize 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 return collectively as a group” main into the sport, which he believes should proceed to occur as a way to produce higher outcomes.

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

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

Now, an improved efficiency Sunday in opposition to 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 attempting to suit items of the puzzle collectively,” Meyers stated. “All of us sort of needed to come collectively, block higher, run routes higher, get open higher for him, defend him. It doesn’t all fall on him.”