Mac Jones is a quick study — but not quite quick enough. The New England Patriots couldn’t quite pull off a comeback over the Dallas Cowboys, who managed a walk-off touchdown in overtime, with Dak Prescott finding CeeDee Lamb for 35 yards. The Cowboys won, 35-29.
The Patriots rookie quarterback was nearly the scapegoat then the hero in regulation. He threw a pick-six to Trevon Diggs with two and a half minutes left in the game. The Patriots had needed just a first down to win it. Instead, they gave Dallas the lead. Then Jones did something remarkable. He hit Kendrick Bourne for 75 yards on the following play with Diggs in coverage. It was a truly special play: gutsy as any play he’d made all year. But he left 2:11 on the clock for the Cowboys, who managed to tie the game, send it to overtime and win it in walk-off fashion. Jones and the Patriots opened the overtime with the ball, but had to punt after moving the ball just 21 yards.
It was a remarkable performance by the Patriots defense — until that final drive in overtime. But that’s the one that decided it.