Mac Jones, New England Patriots' Offense Fail Again in Clutch in Loss to Washington Commanders
Another body blow in a knockout season, the New England Patriots on Sunday were reminded again of their free-agent failure. Receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, the team's top signee who has had minimal impact on the season, had Mac Jones' pass over the middle go through his hands for a game-ending interception as the Patriots lost to the Washington Commanders, 20-17.
Two plays earlier Smith-Schuster had extended the potential game-winning drive with a remarkable diving catch on fourth down. But he then failed to make the grab on Jones' pass, and the ball caromed to Commanders' rookie Jartavius Martin for the game-sealing pick at Washington's 33.
"Mac threw a good ball and it went through my hands," said Smith-Schuster. "That's all on me. He put the ball in a good position"
Jones and his offense have been in the same position - driving with a chance to tie or win in the final minute - five times this season. They only succeeded once, in an upset of the Buffalo Bills. Against the Eagles, Dolphins, Raiders and now Commanders, the final drive ended in a heart-breaking turnover.
Mac Jones and the Patriots' offense again sputtered in the final minutes of a loss to the Commanders.
The Patriots fell to 2-7. The Commanders, who all but raised white flag on their season this week in trading away their top two pass rushers at the deadline, improved to 4-5.
New England had a 17-10 lead before its offense regressed into the abysmal unit it's been all season. The Patriots had four straight possessions end in punts and receiver Jalen Reagor dropped a beautiful Jones bomb at Washington's 10-yard line before their final, fatal drive.
Jones went 24 of 44 but for only 220 yards, and his offense was repeatedly booed off the field by the disgruntled fans at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots have scored more than 20 points only once this season.
After a third-quarter drive kept alive by a roughing-the-passer penalty on Washington's KJ Henry and a dropped interception by Emmanuel Forbes, the Patriots stretched their halftime lead to 17-10 on Chad Ryland's 43-yard field goal.
But the Commanders answered with 10 quick points to re-take the lead. Receiver Jahan Dotson beat Pats' safety Myles Bryant on a 33-yard touchdown catch and Joey Slye's 30-yard field goal gave Washington a 20-17 lead heading into the fourth.
Washington committed two first-half turnovers, including an end zone interception by Kyle Dugger that preserved New England's 14-10 lead at halftime.
The Commanders jumped to a 10-0 and had the ball when they let the Pats back in the game. Linebacker Jahlani Tavai punched the ball free from running back Brian Robinson for a fumble that set up Jones' 14-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Henry. On New England's next possession it took the lead on the longest offensive play of the season.
Rhamondre Stevenson took a hand-off and got hole-opening blocks from center David Andrews and right guard Sidy Sow. Free in the secondary, Stevenson's path to paydirt was sealed by another key block by rookie receiver Demario Douglas. The 64-yard run gave the Pats their 14-10 lead.
It appeared Washington was going to pull ahead late in the half, but Dugger picked off a Sam Howell pass in triple-coverage in the end zone.
Bill Belichick tweaked his defensive lineup with cornerbacks J.C. Jackson and Jack Jones not starting, and the unit played well enough to win. It was the offense, again, that let the team down.
The Patriots take their ugly act overseas next week, playing the Indianapolis Colts in Frankfurt Germany.
