Morning Sports Update
“What’s been done to Mac Jones is a joke.”
Dan Orlovsky’s defense of Mac Jones: After leading the Patriots to an upset win over the Bills on Sunday, Mac Jones may have caused some momentary reappraisals of his performance for New England.
One ESPN analyst argued that the third-year quarterback has always been more capable than what he’s largely shown in his career with the Patriots.
Asked on Monday if Jones has been “unfairly criticized,” ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky gave an emphatic response.
“Of course,” said Orlovsky. “He’s been unfairly handled, unfairly criticized, unfairly judged. It’s been a mess. When Mac Jones was drafted in New England, it was like, ‘Oh man, he’s going to the best place possible.’ In three years, it’s [been] one of the worst places possible,. And everyone’s like, ‘Well, Mac Jones stinks. Mac Jones can’t play. Mac Jones doesn’t anticipate. Mac Jones can’t have accuracy. Mac Jones doesn’t go through progressions.’ Yes, he does. He absolutely does.”
Listing other quarterbacks across the league, Orlovsky contended that all of them have better players around them.
Jones, by contrast, has been asked to lead the Patriots with a revolving door of offensive coaches and lesser talent on the team’s roster.
“All these guys have so much more talent,” Orlovsky noted of the rosters on opposing teams. “And he’s got a bad offensive line. But we want Mac Jones to play like, ‘Oh, where’s the third-year leap?’ With what? With who?”
“And then all of sudden, there’s a little rhythm in their offense yesterday. A guy makes a play or two. [Demario] Douglas makes a couple of plays downfield with the ball in his hands. And then all of a sudden, Mac Jones beats the Buffalo Bills,” Orlovsky pointed out. “‘Oh, maybe he can play a little bit.’ What’s been done to Mac Jones is a joke. I’m not sitting here telling everybody he’s Patrick Mahomes, but he still has the chance to be a good player in this league — a really good player at quarterback.”
Trivia: The win against the Bills was Mac Jones’s second career fourth quarter comeback (the other coming against the Texans in 2021). Can you name the active NFL player with the most fourth quarter comebacks?
(Answer at the bottom).
Hint: First overall pick, 2009.
Scores and schedule:
The Bruins face the Blackhawks in Chicago tonight at 8:30 p.m.
And on Wednesday, the Celtics open the regular season in New York against the Knicks at 7 p.m.
In national sports news, the Rangers defeated the Astros to win the American League pennant and advance to the World Series.
More from Boston.com:
A behind-the-scenes view following the Patriots’ win:
Taylor Twellman’s Revolution playoff hype video: The Revolution face Philadelphia Union in a best-of-three first-round series starting on Saturday at 5 p.m. with an away game. New England will then host the second game on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m.
On this day: In 2007, Dustin Pedroia set the tone immediately for the Red Sox in Game 1 of the World Series. His leadoff home run over the Green Monster gave Boston a quick lead (one which they would not relinquish).
Red Sox starter Josh Beckett struck out nine over seven innings, allowing just one run, and Boston’s offense followed Pedroia’s lead, mashing 12 more runs in a 13-1 rout.
Daily highlight: Vikings rookie Jordan Addison took what appeared to be a 49ers interception away and sprinted for a 60-yard touchdown.
One more angle:
Trivia answer: Matthew Stafford
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Originally posted 2023-10-24 13:13:15.