Update Sports News

Coach Bill Belichick confirmed on Wednesday morning that no alterations will be made. The New England Patriots, with a record of 1-4, are scheduled to face the Las Vegas Raiders, who hold a record of 2-3, this coming Sunday. By choosing to persist with Jones, despite his recent decline in performance over the past two games resulting in his removal during the second half, Belichick is effectively asserting his unwavering faith in the abilities of the team's first-round pick from the 2021 draft, as he believes that Jones provides the team with the greatest likelihood of securing victory.

Belichick had expressed on Monday his intention to evaluate potential modifications to the entire roster, a matter he planned to delve into later that day.

Bailey Zappe, who had been released by the team on August 29th but subsequently reacquired for the practice squad, currently serves as the primary backup for the Patriots. Will Grier, a seasoned professional with five years of experience, occupies the third position and was enlisted from the Cincinnati Bengals' practice squad on September 23rd.

Belichick has reiterated on multiple occasions in recent days that each player and coach must enhance their performance, thereby clarifying that the responsibility does not solely lie with Jones. However, the quarterback's decision-making and errors have been the primary concern for the Patriots, as evidenced by their 10 turnovers, which are tied for the third highest in the NFL.

New England has suffered significant defeats against the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints, with a combined score of 72-3. These losses mark the most severe setbacks in Belichick's tenure as head coach. Jones has contributed to this downfall with three turnovers resulting in touchdowns. Additionally, he has thrown two other interceptions and made a poor pitch during a running play, leading to a lost fumble.

On Tuesday, offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien expressed his expectation that Jones would start against the Raiders. O'Brien acknowledged Jones' recent decline in performance but also highlighted glimpses of the offense's potential earlier in the season.

O'Brien stated, "Jones himself would readily admit that there are areas in which he must improve, such as ball security, route reading, and decision-making. However, it is crucial to recognize that this is a collective effort."

The Patriots' offensive struggles have been exceptionally dire.

According to research conducted by ESPN Stats & Information, the team in question currently holds the lowest ranking in terms of points per game. Furthermore, their average of 0.85 points per drive is set to become the poorest performance recorded by any team since the 2006 Raiders, who held a record of 0.77 points per drive.

In addition, this team has experienced a consecutive streak of 34 drives without scoring an offensive touchdown. Moreover, they have gone through 24 consecutive drives without scoring any points at all. This latter streak stands as the longest single-season record achieved by any team since the 2008 Browns, who held a streak of 31 consecutive drives without scoring.

Jones has experienced a sudden and significant change in his performance, particularly evident after three games this season, during which he appeared to be making progress under the guidance of O'Brien, who was appointed during the offseason. At that juncture, Jones had completed 81 out of 125 passes for a total of 748 yards, achieving five touchdowns and only two interceptions.

The inconsistent performance of the offensive line has been detrimental to Jones, as has the lack of separation created by the wide receiving corps, as indicated by NFL Next Gen Stats. Belichick acknowledged this issue to some extent on Wednesday, emphasizing the need for each individual to concentrate on their respective responsibilities. He further emphasized the collective responsibility of the coaching staff, the head coach, and the players to improve their performance.