Jones ties Brady for dubious Patriots record

New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones. Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports

Mac Jones ties Tom Brady for dubious Patriots record

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 10/8/23

When a quarterback is mentioned in the same sentence with future Hall of Famer Tom Brady, it’s typically a good sign.

That’s not the case for New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones, who did something in Sunday’s 34-0 loss to the New Orleans Saints that had him linked to Brady for all the wrong reasons.

Jones was intercepted midway through the first quarter by Saints defensive back Tyrann Mathieu, who returned it 27 yards for a touchdown and an early 7-0 lead.

It was the fourth pick-six that Jones has thrown on his home field, matching the number of pick-6s that Brady threw in the 17 years he played at Gillette Stadium, per ESPN Stats & Info.

.@SAINTS PICK 6! @Mathieu_Era with the steal!

: #NOvsNE on CBS
: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/LxW25sxPWA pic.twitter.com/ASK40UJKxL
— NFL (@NFL) October 8, 2023

"It was just (an) early (throw),” Jones told reporters after the game. “I’ve got to watch the film. But definitely don’t want to start like that and we got to start faster in these games. It’s been a trend here. So we want to improve and try and learn from it and do everything I can to get better.”

Throwing touchdown passes to opposing teams is an issue Jones has struggled with during his career. He’s thrown three pick-sixes in five games this season and six total 36 games into his NFL career, tying Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford for the most since the 2021 season.

In addition to his first-quarter pick-six, Jones threw a second interception against the Saints before being benched for Bailey Zappe for the second week in a row.

He’s now in a four-way tie with Jimmy Garoppolo, Sam Howell and Daniel Jones for the most interceptions throws this season (six).

Mac Jones throws another interception, this time after a tip due to a hit.

Bench him.

The #Patriots find themselves down 24-0. pic.twitter.com/fJ1SeyCyIy
— Yaakov Gewirtz (@YaakovGewirtz) October 8, 2023