Mac Jones and the Patriots were hitting their stride entering the bye week. They won seven straight games to improve to 9-4, the best record in the AFC at the time.
The tide has changed since the bye, though. The Patriots lost two straight games, with Jones struggling for the majority in each of them. Not only did New England lose its spot atop the AFC, but it also no longer controls its destiny to win the AFC East.
But even with the recent skid, Patriots coach Bill Belichick hasn’t noticed a difference in how his rookie quarterback is handling himself.