Mac Jones benched as Saints humiliate Patriots

The New England Patriots suffer their worst home shutout loss in franchise history with a 34-0 defeat to the New Orleans Saints.

The New England Patriots suffered a devastating loss in their game against the New Orleans Saints, resulting in the worst home shutout in franchise history. The Patriots found themselves down 24-0 early in the second half, facing boos from their home crowd. This loss comes just one week after Coach Bill Belichick experienced the worst loss of his career. Quarterback Mac Jones was benched for the second consecutive game, further adding to the frustration of the team.

In a desperate attempt to gain some momentum, the Patriots opted to punt the ball away on a fourth-and-3 inside Saints territory. However, this decision only resulted in a minor flip of field position and did not accomplish anything substantial. The Patriots continued to struggle, with Jones throwing two interceptions and eventually being replaced by Bailey Zappe. The crowd's frustration was evident, as the cheers for Zappe were few and far between.

This loss to the Saints marks a new low for the Patriots, surpassing their previous record set in a 52-0 loss to the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins. The Saints, who had recently suffered losses to the Packers and Buccaneers, managed to find their footing against the struggling Patriots. This defeat brings the Patriots' record to 1-4, their worst start since Belichick's first season in 2000.

Belichick expressed his disappointment in a postgame news conference, acknowledging the team's slow start and their inability to gain control of the game. Jones had a rough outing, completing only 12 of 22 passes for 110 yards and two interceptions. His passer rating of 30.5 was one of the lowest of his career. The Patriots' offense struggled from the beginning, with their first possession ending in a three-and-out and their second resulting in an interception returned for a touchdown by Tyrann Mathieu.

Jones, who had shown promise in his rookie season, has regressed in his second year. While he has thrown five touchdown passes in five games, he has also given up three interceptions and a fumble for scores. His struggles are evident, with his four pick-6s at Gillette Stadium matching Tom Brady's regular-season record in the same venue over 18 years.

Despite the disappointing performance, Belichick did not solely blame Jones for the team's problems. He acknowledged that there were many issues that contributed to the loss. Zappe, who replaced Jones, also struggled to make an impact, completing only 3 of 9 passes for 22 yards and failing to earn a first down in four possessions.

The Patriots' players remain determined to bounce back from this defeat. Center David Andrews emphasized the need to not give up and to continue working hard throughout the season. The team understands that it will be a long year, but they are committed to putting in the effort to turn things around.

Overall, the Patriots' loss to the Saints was a significant setback for the franchise. The team now faces the challenge of regrouping and finding a way to improve their performance moving forward. The road ahead will not be easy, but the Patriots are determined to overcome their struggles and prove themselves once again.