The New England Patriots defeated the Washington Football Team 22-13 in Week 1 of the preseason.
But as we all know, wins and losses don’t necessarily matter in the preseason.
Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the contest for Patriots fans was the debut of rookie quarterback Mac Jones.
New England selected Jones with the No. 15 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
He spent three years at Alabama before being drafted and really broke onto the scene as a junior.
That year he threw for 4,500 yards, 41 touchdowns, and four interceptions as the Crimson Tide won the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship.
New England’s matchup against Washington was Jones’ first taste of live NFL action.
How did the Patriots’ quarterback of the future fare?
The Hype
Before we even get into Jones’ play, it’s important to note just how excited Patriots fans were to see him on the field.
When Jones got the nod to enter the contest against Washington, New England’s fans gave him a standing ovation.
Mac Jones takes the field to a standing ovation in Foxborough 🙌
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/Z6BoyVDsrm
— ESPN (@espn) August 13, 2021
Remember, this was Jones’ first official NFL game; he hadn’t even taken a snap for the Patriots yet.
Yet, fans were clamoring for his appearance and were elated when he got his opportunity.
New England fans are looking for something to cheer about after going 7-9 last season and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2008.
For both Jones and the Patriots front office, it was important to see how the fans would react to his arrival.
That reaction was overwhelmingly positive, which should be a boost for Jones’ confidence throughout the season.
The Performance
In his first game, Jones completed 13-of-19 passes for 87 yards.
He had no touchdowns or interceptions and averaged just 4.6 yards per completion.
However, while the numbers may not be all that appealing, Jones made numerous plays against Washington that show just how good he could be.
My goodness. Mac Jones put this ball right on Kristian Wilkerson's hands (and only where the WR could catch it). 👀🔥 pic.twitter.com/odjmGeahQP
— Henry McKenna (@McKennAnalysis) August 13, 2021
On this play, Jones threw a perfect ball directly into the receivers hands.
While Kristian Wilkerson may not have caught it, the pass shows just how good Jones’ accuracy is.
He had the tightest of windows and still put the ball only where the receiver could catch it.
.@MacJones_10 hangs in…dart. 🎯 @Patriots
📺: #WASvsNE on @nflnetwork (or check your local listings)
📱: https://t.co/QXoNWCGPHr pic.twitter.com/oi6P9nmdX6— NFL (@NFL) August 13, 2021
Here, Jones shows great control of the pocket.
As the defenders were about to get to him, Jones was able to time the rush perfectly and get the ball out for a first down.
Again, the pass was right on the money, showing off Jones’ accuracy once more.
Mac Jones with a strike to Kendrick Bourne! pic.twitter.com/0WZXgyENBd
— ❌❌❌ (@FTBVids_YT) August 13, 2021
Jones threw this pass through four defenders and still completed it for a first down.
Credit to Kendrick Bourne for getting spacing, but Jones threw the ball right where it needed to be and moved the chains.
Overall, despite the lack of stats, Jones looked like calm and composed in the pocket.
Mac Jones oozes quiet confidence. It's like he's been in the NFL 10 years.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) August 13, 2021
The one knock on Jones in his preseason debut would be his lack of mobility in the pocket.
While he was able to get the ball out on time, he didn’t have to leave the pocket much.
For that to succeed, the Patriots offensive line is going to have to hold up.
But even with Jones’ lack of mobility, it wasn’t like Tom Brady was piecing together 20-yard runs in New England.
Overall Grade: B+
Jones just misses an A as he didn’t lead a scoring drive.
However, his debut shows glimpses of what Patriots’ fans are hoping Jones can be.
In comparison, Cam Newton, who Jones is battling for the starting spot, completed four-of-seven passes for 49 yards against Washington.
One game isn’t going to determine who will get the starting nod Week 1.
But Jones put together a solid effort in his first NFL game and it looks like the Patriots have a quarterback fans can look forward to seeing once again.
NEXT: Cam Newton Deserves A Full Season In New England