The New England Patriots suffered a record-setting home shutout loss on Sunday, with the team benched quarterback Mac Jones in the process. The Patriots were shut out for the first time in Foxborough since 1993, losing to the Miami Dolphins 20-0.
The Patriots had high hopes for Jones, their first-round draft pick in 2021. But the rookie quarterback was unable to get the offense going against the Dolphins, and was eventually pulled in favor of veteran Brian Hoyer. Jones completed just 9 of his 12 passes for only 79 yards, and was sacked four times.
The Patriots’ offense was anemic throughout the game, with the team managing just eight first downs and only 169 total yards. The Dolphins defense was able to contain the Patriots’ passing attack, and the team was unable to get anything going on the ground either.
The Patriots’ decision to bench Jones was met with mixed reactions from fans and analysts alike. Some argued that it was too early to give up on the rookie, while others argued that it was the right move given the team’s lack of offensive production.
Regardless of the decision, it’s clear that the Patriots have a lot of work to do if they want to turn their season around. With Jones benched, it’s likely that the team will turn to Hoyer to lead the offense going forward. It remains to be seen if he can help turn things around for the Patriots, but one thing is for sure: Sunday’s shutout loss was a major setback for the team.
