Patriots Player Spotlight: Marcus Jones’ Pick Six and Punt Returns Help Patriots to 10 Straight Wins

Photo Credit: Steve Senne/Associated Press.

In New England’s Week 12 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, the visiting Patriots found themselves down 10-7. It was a slow start for the red-hot Patriots and nothing seemed to go right. 

Drake Maye threw a pick-six, the Bengals were moving the football, everything pointed to an off-day for New England as Cincinnati took a 2nd & 5 snap from their 33-yard line. Bengals Quarterback Joe Flacco surveyed his options downfield before passing to his check-down option. Then, like a flash of lightning, a defender in all white rushed into the throw.

It was Marcus Jones.

Jones snatched the ball out of the air and bolted down the sideline 33 yards for a pick six, avenging Maye’s earlier in the quarter and giving the Pats their first lead of the day. This play turned the tide of the game and led to another Patriots victory, their ninth in a row. 

Yet, Jones was not done as lightning struck twice in two weeks. The following week on Monday night, the Patriots' defense forced a three-and-out, and the New York Giants sent their punting unit onto the field. Jones waited to return the ball as James Gillan booted the ball deep into Patriots territory with a thunder. 

Then came the lightning. 

Jones secured the ball, rushed forward past Giants defenders, received blocks from his teammates, then broke free along the Giants’ sideline. With a burst of speed, Jones flew past Gillan, and he scored a 94-yard punt return for a touchdown, giving New England a 10-0 lead and momentum for the rest of the game. 

“My main thing was ‘do not get tackled by the punter,” said Jones postgame. “But, I would say also, the field was kind of shrinking, so I was trying to stay up and do my guys right.”

Jones’ score gave the Patriots the momentum early in the game and brought the sideline and the stadium to life. It was further evidence of how impactful the fourth-year cornerback has become to the Patriots this season.

“Marcus is just a fantastic returner,” said Patriots Head Coach Mike Vrabel. “I’m proud of the guys on that unit. They take pride in blocking for him. Those are tough. Those can be back-breaking for an opponent. So we try to do everything we can to avoid them, and we try to create them.”

“We wanted to try to get on them fast, and Marcus helped us with that,” said Maye. “I think it was perfect with Coach saying, "no naps." You want to come in here and start fast. This team has been up in a lot of games, and they got good players over there and some good talent.”

Jones’ energy and playmaking ability spark all sides of the football for the Patriots. Many players look to him as a leader, especially with the captain’s “C” on his jersey.

“He has a voice, and he uses it,” said Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez. “Everybody, we look to him, especially in the secondary. We are really close in the secondary. He plays a big role, being a nickel. He has got to travel around, he has got to do a lot of things that are on your plate while you are playing nickel. He handles it amazingly, and being in the locker room, he is one of the most energetic guys in there.”

Jones closely models his game after a Patriots legend, Troy Brown. The two Patriots have a close relationship, and Jones cherishes the pointers that Brown makes to help improve his game. 

“I have seen him before the game. We go way back and everything like that. He taught me a lot when it comes down to catching punts and watching his film. He was one of the best to ever do it,” said Jones. 

With Jones playing like his mentor, Troy Brown, and the locker room banding together around him, the energy this Patriots team has after 10 consecutive wins has put the league on notice. The Patriots now stand at 11-2 on the season and hold the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoff picture. 

This weekend, the Patriots enter their Bye Week and gear up for the toughest stretch of their schedule with games against the Buffalo Bills at home and the Baltimore Ravens on the road. Many doubt the Patriots due to their strength of schedule, but winning these games, especially with leadership and energy from players like Jones, will be a statement that New England is back and built for a long postseason run. 

Thanks for reading!

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-Joseph McLaughlin