Patriots bench Mac Jones in final moments of loss to Colts in Germany: Is trust gone?

Nov 12, 2023; Frankfurt, Germany; New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) looks on during a time out against the Indianapolis Colts in the second quarter during an International Series game at Deutsche Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
By Chad Graff and James Boyd
Nov 12, 2023

The Patriots’ season went from bad to worse in a 10-6 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Frankfurt, Germany, as New England benched starter Mac Jones for Bailey Zappe in the final moments of the game. Here’s what you need to know:

  • Zappe, who last played in Week 5, entered the game with 1:52 remaining after Jones threw an interception near the end zone in the Patriots’ previous possession.
  • On second-and-12 with 4:24 left, the Patriots (2-8) looked poised to take the lead when Colts safety Julian Blackmon intercepted Jones’ pass on the 2-yard line.
  • The Colts (5-5) couldn’t capitalize on the pick and punted after a six-play, 41-yard drive. Their inability to score didn’t matter as Zappe threw a game-ending interception.
  • Tensions boiled over during the game as offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien yelled at Jones on the bench when they reviewed plays on a tablet in the third quarter. O’Brien’s outburst came after Jones couldn’t escape the pressure on third-and-3 and threw the ball to Rhamondre Stevenson for an incomplete pass.

Patriots lose trust in Mac Jones

The Patriots have lost trust in Jones. When they got the ball back with one final chance to mount a game-winning drive, they benched their three-year starting quarterback in favor of Zappe. The Patriots’ offense these days is based on running the ball and short quick passes to their running backs. That’s not good enough in today’s NFL.

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Jones’ final numbers don’t look horrible (15-of-20 for 170 yards and one interception) but he handled pressure terribly on this day (he took five sacks) and made some head-scratching decisions that could’ve resulted in more interceptions had the Colts not dropped them. He was picked off in the red zone when the Patriots were 15 yards from a go-ahead score in the fourth quarter with one of the worst throws of the entire season — among any quarterback. The second half of the season is largely about seeing what the Patriots have in Jones, and this one wasn’t a good start. — Chad Graff, Patriots staff writer

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GO DEEPER

The Mac Jones era in New England is over as Patriots fall to Colts in Germany

Examining Bill Belichick’s status

Patriots owner Robert Kraft sat next to his son Jonathan in a suite in Frankfurt, watching his once-dominant team slog through another boring loss. Bill Belichick, the coach he’s employed for 24 years, now has the Patriots at 2-8 on the season. If this were any other coach with any other résumé, this might be the time to make a move, potentially firing the coach as the team enters the bye week.

That probably won’t happen, not with Belichick after everything he’s done for the Patriots. But a big decision looms after the season and games like Sunday’s are evidence that the Patriots might need to make some changes. — Graff

Colts keep playoff hopes alive

The Colts found a way. Defensive end Dayo Odenyingbo set the tone early with three sacks in the first half, and safeties Blackmon and Rodney Thomas II slammed the door late with a pair of interceptions that lifted Indianapolis to a victory.

Jonathan Taylor scored the Colts’ lone touchdown on a 1-yard run in the first quarter, and while the offense continues to struggle, Indianapolis kept its playoff hopes alive with a victory. — James Boyd, Colts staff writer

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Highlights of the game

What they’re saying

When asked if he still has faith in Jones as his quarterback, Belichick said, “I have faith in all our players.”

Belichick also added that he “just thought it was time for a change” when he benched Jones for Zappe.

Jones said of the benching: “I wasn’t playing very good so I got taken out of the game.”

While discussing his interception, Jones called it a “terrible throw. Knew where to go just didn’t do it right.”

Required reading

(Photo: Nathan Ray Seebeck / USA Today)

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