I don't think I agree that Mac was bad today. He wasn't consistent, but he had his positive plays and his negative plays. The would-have-been pick 6 looked worse than it was - he and Meyers misread an option route. The 4th down where he didn't throw to Henry was a bigger deal, because it suggests he has tunnel vision (ie, that he locks in on his first read and can't survey the field). He did complete 24 passes, run for a couple of first downs, threw a red zone TD, and his interception was on a play where he was hit as he threw with a major impact on the throw.
He struggled, but it wasn't all bad.
I could not disagree more with this post. Setting aside the eye test which showed Mac with happy feet in the pocket, making throws off of his back foot, and missing open reads (and that horrible pick 6) ...
1. Mac threw for 5.5 yards per attempt. That's subpar.
2. The offense Mac led generated less than 2 points per drive (22 points over 12 drives excluding the final one to run out the clock). And that's being generous. Patriots scored 6 points (2 FG's) on 2 drives where the special teams or defense gifted the offense tremendous starting field position. On the first of those drives after a great punt return, Mac and the offense went 3 and out and gained 0 yards. On the second of those drives after the interception, Mac and the offense went 3 and out and gained 4 yards. You could make the argument that the Mac-led offense really generated only 16 points over 12 drives.
3. On 2 other drives with phenomenal starting field position (NYJ 45, NYJ 40), the Mac-led offense had to punt.
Maybe Mac will be able to turn this around in coming weeks. His body of work over the past 12 months does not inspire confidence. In his last 13 games dating back to last season, Mac's play has only been acceptable in 3 of those contests (all from last season).
11/18/2021 -- Thursday night game at Falcons. High completion percentage, but Mac's offense didn't put up a lot of points against a very poor Falcons defense.
11/28/2021 -- Home vs Titans. Stats look great (300 yds and 2 TD), but goosed by ridiculous performance from Bourne (including an improbable 41 yard TD reception) and playing against an injury-decimated Titans team.
12/6/2021 -- Monday night at Bills. Extreme wind game.
12/18/2021 -- Saturday night game at Colts. Scoreless first half and bad pick. Rebounded late to make game competitive.
12/26/2021 -- Home vs Bills. Kept in check by stout defense. No TD's, 2 picks.
1/2/2022 -- Home vs. Jaguars. Lit up worst team in league.
1/9/2022 -- At Dolphins. Pick 6 to put team in early hole.
1/15/2022 -- Playoff game at Bills. Looked overmatched, but it was really the Patriots defense that sh!t the bed.
9/11/2022 -- At Dolphins. Untimely pick. Unremarkable. Offense only puts up 7 points in loss.
9/18/2022 -- At Steelers. Another bad pick. Agholor makes a great play on a so/so deep throw before halftime. Pats' run game steps up in second half.
9/25/2022 -- Home vs. Ravens. Winnable game where Mac made best throws of the year. But he also threw 3 picks with 0 pass TD.
10/24/2022 -- Home vs. Bears on Monday night. Looked horrible. Terrible back foot INT in first half leads to "benching."
10/30/2022 -- At Jets. Looked very shaky. One pick caused by pressure. Another horrible pick 6 erased by after-the-fact roughing the passer penalty.
I think a feeling of disappointment here with Mac is entirely justified. Going forward, we'll just have to trust Bill to figure out how to fix/salvage Mac.