While there were hiccups in between, it’s possible that the Patriots have gone from having the greatest quarterback of all time to having the smartest rookie quarterback ever.
Such a title is, of course, subjective, and there are still plenty of questions about the type of quarterback Mac Jones will end up being, but the hype train is picking up speed.
After the New England rookie took another step in an easy and efficient win over the Falcons on Thursday — 22-of-26 for 207 yards with a touchdown and interception — some “greatest ever” talk emerged about a team that had Tom Brady for two decades.
“Mac Jones has some stuff in him, some intangibles, that I think are maybe the greatest we’ve ever seen from a quarterback,” ESPN’s Ryan Clark said on “Get Up!”.
“Now, it doesn’t mean he has the strongest arm. It doesn’t mean that he’s the fastest. But from neck up, I don’t know if we’ve ever seen a rookie that is better. And it’s showing every day that he takes snaps on the field.”
Jones. 23, has been indisputably the best of his rookie QB class, as Jets fans can tell. And while coach Bill Belichick is allowing the Alabama product to do more and more each week, the game plans have been safer and more intended for Jones to simply not mess up.
His throws have averaged 7.6 yards in the air, which is the 20th least in the league. He’s not overpowering defenses, but maybe he is outsmarting them.
“He’s doing everything that you need to do to win football games,” said Clark, the former longtime defensive back who played alongside Ben Roethlisberger with Pittsburgh.
Brady, as a rookie, won a Super Bowl. Clark can see Jones doing the same. The Patriots are 7-4 and in second place being this Bills in the AFC East. Jones has thrown for 2,540 yards, 14 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
“When you watch Bill Belichick teams, what do we always see?” Clark said. “They are a team that ascends. As the season gets closer to the end, the New England Patriots become the team that’s playing their best.”