Mac Jones has ever-so-slightly increased his average touchdowns per game from 1.17 in the first six games to 1.29 over the last seven games. But that’s probably not what has helped drive the New England Patriots to their seven-game win streak which has elevated them to the top of the AFC.
No, Jones and coach Bill Belichick would probably argue it’s more about his turnovers per game. In the first six weeks, he averaged 1.17 but has improved to .43 turnovers per game during the win streak. It’s a lot easier to make such improvements when the Patriots run the ball 46 times and throw just three times in a game like they did in their win over the Bill. That game, of course, was an outlier in so many ways.
“I think just playing within the offense, understanding how to win games, what teams do bad, and exposing that,” Jones told reporters on Wednesday, “I’ve obviously been taught my whole football life that when you don’t turn the ball over, good things happen. The more you can do that, the more you can play within your offensive scheme, the better. I can continue to do a good job there.
“We’ve just been doing a better job with it. Everyone has. The fumbles and interceptions were my fault for the most part, obviously, because you can’t throw it to the other team. It’s an area to improve on, but you also can’t be gun-shy or anything like that. You’ve just got to go out there and try to throw it to the right guy.”
As the weather gets colder and, perhaps, snowier, the Patriots may grow less reliant upon Jones. That will mean that when they do ask the rookie quarterback to make plays, he’ll have to be careful about what he does with his throws. He may not need to be prolific but he will need to be efficient.
