Over the last four weeks, Jones has endured two of his worst games as a pro, but his teammates are nonetheless trusting him to play well Saturday at Buffalo.
Jakobi Meyers can admit what the rest of the football-watching world can see. The last four weeks have not been too kind to the Patriots — and especially Mac Jones. “This last month I would pretty much call a roller coaster,” the Pats’ leading receiver said Wednesday. But — and this is key — Jones emotionally hasn’t gone for the ride. Sure, he called his performance last Sunday in Miami “super embarrassing.” But that rare break from his generally robotic postgame press conferences was contained to the weekend. Ahead of the biggest game of his professional life, Jones is now preparing like the same quarterback who shredded the Jaguars the week before and led the Pats to the AFC’s best record in early December. And that steadiness, even after a 1-3 stretch that now has the Patriots stumbling into the playoffs, gives Meyers hope. “You trust somebody who’s pretty consistent mentally,” he said. “We know we don’t have to worry about him freaking out or panicking or having fits. We know he’s going to be there, we know exactly who he’s going to be. “So we’ve just got to go out there and be our best selves, as well.” Related Articles Guregian: It’s time for the Patriots defense to get off the field in the 4th quarter Patriots-Bills Wild Card battlegrounds: Can the Patriots contain Josh Allen? Patriots-Bills injury report: Kyle Dugger, Christian Barmore limited, two players out How the Patriots are preparing for potentially the coldest game in franchise history Patriots CB Jalen Mills not ruled out yet for Wild Card playoff game at Bills In their last meeting, the Bills limited the best version of the Patriots’ passing game by challenging them with more man coverage. Meyers admits Buffalo’s man-to-man plan caught them off-guard, though mid-game adjustments helped Jones establish a rhythm late as the Pats attempted to mount a comeback in an eventual 33-21 loss.
