So Close? Mac, Pats Repeatedly Coming Up Short in Clutch

Quarterback Mac Jones has regressed. The offensive line has been a dumpster fire since preseason. And season-ending injuries on both sides of the ball - leading receiver Kendrick Bourne, Pro Bowl pass-rusher Matthew Judon and rookie star cornerback Christian Gonzalez - long ago yanked 2023 into the ditch.

Still, the Patriots are creating chances. They're just woefully not converting them.

*Down 25-20 to the Eagles in Week 1, they drove to Philly's 20-yard line with :27 remaining before rookie receiver Kayshon Boutte's apparent fourth-down catch at the 8 was overturned by replay into a game-ending incompletion.

*Trailing the Dolphins 24-17 in Week 2, the Pats made it to Miami's 33 with 1:00 remaining. That's when a wild fourth-down attempt wound up in Mike Gesicki tossing a desperation lateral to offensive lineman Cole Strange, whose valiant run came up inches short of a first down at the 29.

*Behind the Las Vegas Raiders 19-17 with 2:23 remaining, New England needed to drive approximately 50 yards for a potential game-winning field goal. Instead, they went backward five yards in four plays before Jones was sacked for a game-clinching safety.

*Down 20-17 to the Commanders last weekend in Foxboro, the Pats were driving toward at least a game-tying field at Washington's 41-yard line with :30 remaining. Jones' pass over the middle, however, went through the hands of receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and turned into a game-clinching interception.

In the upset of the Bills Jones crisply drove the offense 75 yards in the final two minutes, hitting Gesicki with the game-winning touchdown with :12 remaining. But in total chances for a comeback win on a successful clutch drive, the quarterback is 1 for 5. Convert just half of those missed opportunities and suddenly New England is a respectable 4-5 instead of 2-7.

On five clutch fourth-quarter drives with a chance to tie or win in the last two minutes, Jones is a combined 19 of 27 for 175 yards, one touchdown, one interception and three costly sacks.

Maybe the glass isn't half-full after all.