Aaron Rodgers Supports Mac Jones, Criticizes New England Patriots 'Overreaction'
Over the course of a few short days, the sentiment surrounding the New England Patriots has changed dramatically.
After a 1-5 start, most understandably left New England for dead. All the talk surrounding the Patriots was how coach Bill Belichick was on the hot seat, quarterback Mac Jones wasn't the answer and just general doom and gloom.
Then on Sunday, the Patriots shocked the world when they upset the division-rival Buffalo Bills 29-25 at home. Jones had arguably his best game in the NFL, completing 25 of 30 passes for 272 yards and two touchdowns while orchestrating a game-winning drive, and Belichick earned the 300th regular-season win of his legendary career.
While the postseason still seems like a long shot, there is noticeably more optimism in New England now than there was before. Even the national media narrative surrounding the team, and Jones in particular, has shifted in a slightly more positive direction.
For New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the sudden shift in narrative came off as jarring. In his weekly appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday, Rodgers called out how knee-jerk NFL media can be, and used the Patriots as an example.
Rodgers, then with the Green Bay Packers, and Jones side by side.
“The narrative can change so quickly in this league. It’s overreaction Mondays every single week,” Rodgers said. “Look at what’s going on in New England. ‘Bill’s gonna be out’ and ‘Mac is the problem’ and then Mac goes out and balls out, I think he was 25 of 31, played incredible, led them on a last-second drive and now it’s like, ‘Mac was never the problem!’ You have to be able to laugh at some of this (expletive) because it’s so ridiculous. The overreactions and the blanket statements are crazy.”
A four-time MVP, Rodgers is currently rehabbing from a torn Achilles he suffered in the Jets' season-opener against the Bills. While his season was initially thought to be over, Rodgers has made remarkable progress and is adamant he can come back this year.
Jones, meanwhile, has had a rough season before his strong showing on Sunday. While the third-year quarterback still has work to do to prove he can be the guy for New England, his latest performance showed that Patriots fans shouldn't be so quick to write him off.
