FOXBOROUGH – Back in the summer, Patriots offensive players were dancing and celebrating between big plays. The group was also trash-talking with their defensive teammates.
Times were good – or so they seemed.
The Patriots offense looked completely different in their 2023 training camp compared to their 2022 camp where they struggled daily. It appeared that things were headed in the right direction under new offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien. Even Mac Jones looked improved.
So, what happened?
This season, the Patriots offense looks worse, not better. The same goes for Jones. This unit didn’t carry over their momentum from training camp and on Wednesday, Jones admitted that players weren’t having fun. That, he said, needs to change.
“A lot of the guys I have a great relationship with and are some of my closest friends – not only on the field but off the field. Let’s carry that into the games,” Jones said. “I feel like we do that in practice. You guys saw that in training camp. We were out there having fun. Then the game comes around, I don’t know what it is. I want to go out there and have fun, do our jobs, and celebrate with each other. When somebody gets knocked down, pick them back up. Trying to change the narrative there and play football together.”
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Of course, it’s tough to have fun when you’re struggling. In five games this season, the Patriots offense has scored six touchdowns. The group has been outscored 73-3 over the past two games. They’re coming off back-to-back blowout losses to Dallas and New Orleans.
What’s puzzling, however, is how Jones has gotten worse as this year has gone on. Although there are other issues (namely a porous offensive line), the Patriots quarterback has turned the ball over six times in the past two games.
This week, the Patriots have said they’re ‘starting over.’ For Jones, that means having fun and doing a better job communicating with his teammates.
“When I’m at my best, I’m having fun, enjoying everybody,” Jones said. “That’s one of the good things I can do is communicate and I need to do a better job with that. We’re out there playing a game that we love. Right now, it’s not looking too good but we’ve got to flip the switch and start over and figure out ways to go out there and have fun and sling the ball around, have guys make plays, and go out and celebrate with each other.”
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