Mac Jones impresses in debut but New England Patriots fall to Miami Dolphins
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- New England Patriots rookie quarterback Mac Jones turned in a sterling performance in his NFL debut Sunday, but a late fumble by running back Damien Harris at the Miami Dolphins' 9-yard line ended what could have been a go-ahead touchdown drive as the team fell, 17-16, at Gillette Stadium.
Jones finished 29-of-39 for 281 yards, with one touchdown and no interceptions. The 281 passing yards are the most by a Patriots quarterback in his first career start, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.
When the Patriots took over at the 50-yard line with 8:07 remaining in the fourth quarter on a Jonathan Jones interception, the stage was set for some late-game magic that Patriots fans previously became accustomed to watching Tom Brady from 2001 to 2019.
But Harris had the ball stripped away from him by Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard at the 9-yard line, with just more than three minutes left in the game, and Howard also recovered it.
The Dolphins converted two first downs to run out the clock.
It was a stunning turn on a day that Jones met expectations that arrived with him after the Patriots selected him with the 15th overall pick in the draft.
He threw his first career touchdown pass late in the second quarter, a 7-yard connection to receiver Nelson Agholor. One of the themes of the day was Jones' production under duress, as he was 8-of-12 with the touchdown when facing pressure, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.
Rookie quarterbacks had been 6-0 under Bill Belichick in their first career start. Jones' debut was highly anticipated in New England, with the crowd rising to its feet as he took the field in warm-ups and the song "Mr. Jones", by Mike Jones, played.
This is the second straight season the Patriots lost an AFC East game on a fumble in field goal range. Last year, they trailed the Buffalo Bills, 24-21, at the Bills' 19-yard line before Cam Newton fumbled with 37 seconds left.
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