The New England Patriots must have had some pent-up anger after taking back-to-back losses. The team played angry in their drubbing of the Jacksonville Jaguars and quarterback Trevor Lawrence. That’s how they made their first playoff berth in the post-Tom-Brady era.
The Jaguars couldn’t move the football — and the Patriots could do nothing but move the football. It was a tale of two totally different teams, which was why their rookie quarterbacks had such different stat lines. Mac Jones was 22 of 30 or 227 yards and three touchdowns and Trevor Lawrence was 17 of 27 for 193 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions.
Jones is clearly better coached and better supported at this point in his career. That’s how New England has punched their way to a 10-6 record, with an outside shot at finishing at No. 1 in the AFC East.