Bless his heart, New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones really felt like he let his team down. It’s no different than what any other of the 31 starting quarterbacks would’ve said after Sunday’s game. Fair enough, right? Well, let’s not mince words here, but there was absolutely no scenario in which Mac was going to tackle Chandler Jones of the Las Vegas Raiders. None, no offense, Mac.
After one of the wildest final minutes of an NFL game that you’ll ever see, Sunday’s outcome was decided by an offensive blunder. Not on the part of Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels, no, not this time. Rather than play it safe and take the game to overtime, the Patriots took part in what can only be described as tomfoolery. At that point in the game, you protect the ball and take your chance in overtime. Even Patriots head coach Bill Belichick knew there weren’t many options. In fact, according to him, not even a deep shot down the field was an option. “Taking a shot at the end zone? We couldn’t throw it that far,” said Belichick in his postgame presser.
Mac Jones didn’t stand a chance against the Raiders’ No. 55
What happens next will live on in both Raiders’ and Mac Jones’ lore. No. 55 for the Raiders intercepted an errant lateral attempt by Patriots wide receiver Jakobi Meyers. Immediately after stealing the ball, Jones lights up Mac in a highlight-reel-worthy stiff arm that has since gone viral.
Mac still has a long career ahead of him but with the way social media operates these days, his missed attempt will live in internet infamy. Nevertheless, Mac did the right thing afterward. He did what Raiders quarterback Derek Carr has been synonymous with, shouldering the blame. Speaking to reporters following the game, Mac took the route that Raiders fans know all too well.
“I got to tackle the guy. It’s on me, and it’s my fault. Because if we tackle him—or I tackle him—then we play for overtime. It’s all on me. Got to make that, not good enough by me. It is what it is, just got to tackle him and play for overtime. So, it’s on me.”
Mac seems like a nice enough dude, but you won’t find too many Raiders fans shedding a tear for the guy.
*Top Photo: Larry Brown Sports