FRANKFURT, Germany — Mac Jones arrived in a brand new nation with a playful, jovial perspective. He may be leaving Germany with out his beginning job assured.
Jones threw considered one of his worst interceptions of the season whereas trailing 10-6 with the ball contained in the crimson zone on the Colts’ 15-yard line. His cross to tight finish Mike Gesicki was embarrassingly in need of the meant goal and caught by a falling Colts security Julian Blackmon for the decide.
The Colts drained almost two-and-a-half minutes off of the clock earlier than punting again to the Patriots, who inserted Bailey Zappe at quarterback. It was the primary time Jones was benched this season with out the sport out of hand.
Zappe entered the sport and went 26 yards on seven performs earlier than tossing his personal game-clinching interception. The Colts kneeled on the ball for the 10-6 win.
The Patriots are left with out an apparent starter at quarterback over the ultimate seven video games of the season.
The Patriots’ offense regarded jet-lagged after traversing the Atlantic Ocean on a flight that took off Thursday afternoon and landed seven hours and 6 time zones later Friday morning.
Then once more, what was their excuse for the primary 9 weeks of the season with out an intercontinental flight?
Give the Frankfurt Stadium crowd credit score. They stayed excited for the whole lot of Sunday’s slog that noticed 12 straight drives finish with out factors.
The Patriots truly regarded considerably competent on their first offensive drive, going 61 yards on 13 performs earlier than a third-down sack compelled them to accept a 37-yard discipline purpose from rookie kicker Chad Ryland.
Unfortunately for the Patriots, the Colts responded with a scoring drive of their very own, going 75 yards on 14 performs earlier than operating again Jonathan Taylor scampered for a 1-yard landing.
The Patriots bought away from the operating sport after their preliminary offensive sequence, and their manufacturing suffered, stringing collectively 4 straight drives that led to punts earlier than the top of the half. Jones was sacked 5 occasions within the first half because the offensive line crumbled with left sort out Trent Brown out after not touring on account of an ankle damage and private matter.
The Patriots’ protection did their job, as properly, forcing three straight punts with a missed discipline purpose combined in earlier than the half.
The Colts opened the second half with a passing try from quarterback Gardner Minshew that was tipped by Patriots linebacker Jahlani Tavai and intercepted by cornerback Myles Bryant. The Patriots’ ensuing drive ended with a missed discipline purpose on a 35-yard try from Ryland.
The Patriots’ protection made fast work of the Colts, forcing one other punt on a five-play, 26-yard drive.
Ryland lastly ended the scoring drought with a 24-yard discipline purpose after the Patriots went 93 yards on 15 performs however couldn’t get the ball in the long run zone. Jones threw a harmful incompletion to tight finish Hunter Henry on third-and-goal from the 5-yard line that was almost picked off by Colts security Julian Blackmon.
The Colts knocked by their very own 51-yard discipline purpose after only a seven-play, 20-yard scoring drive that began with a 42-yard kick return from Isaiah McKenzie. Patriots special-teamer Ty Montgomery saved a landing by upending McKenzie on the Colts’ 47-yard line.
BEST
RB Ezekiel Elliott: The veteran operating again was the Patriots’ most dynamic offensive participant, carrying the ball 13 occasions for 54 yards whereas including two catches for 34 yards.
RB Rhamondre Stevenson: Stevenson led the Patriots with 87 yards on 19 carries. He wasn’t fairly as efficient as Elliott within the passing sport, catching two passes on 4 targets for 9 yards.
WR Demario Douglas: The rookie large receiver put collectively one other career-high efficiency with 5 catches on 5 targets for 75 yards.
WORST
QB Mac Jones: There’s nothing left to be mentioned about a fully abhorrent interception Jones threw within the crimson zone trailed 10-6 with the sport on the road halfway by the fourth quarter. His cross to tight finish Mike Gesicki was short-armed and quick, hitting Blackmon within the chest for an interception.
Offensive line: Jones was sacked 5 occasions within the first half because the Patriots QB struggled to seek out time to throw behind a line lacking their blindside blocker.
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster: The veteran receiver was flagged twice — as soon as for a false begin and once more for an unlawful shift. He caught only one 9-yard cross.
Special groups: Ryland missed a brief discipline purpose, punter Bryce Baringer had two touchbacks, the Patriots went with an all-out punt block with no returner early within the second quarter which resulted in a field-flipping 69-yard punt, and their kickoff protection group let up a 42-yard return to Isaiah McKenzie early within the fourth quarter.
Source: www.bostonherald.com