new England Patriots Fans couldn’t believe their eyes when they saw Jacoby Meyers try to lateral the ball on the last play of the game, only for Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Chandler Jones to catch it and run it in on second for the game-winning touchdown. Sprinted way.
The call by Raimondre Stevenson to run the ball to start that wacky play was even more surprising to the Patriots’ offense, as he ran for 23 yards and pitched it back to Meyers.
With the ball at the Patriots’ 45-yard line, one would expect a Hail Mary. quarterback mack jones as the last attempt before overtime as the score was tied at 24 points.
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Mac Jones, #10 of the New England Patriots, reacts during an NFL football game between the Las Vegas Raiders and the New England Patriots at Allegiant Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Las Vegas.
(Michael Owens / Getty Images)
However, when head coach Bill Belichick was asked after the game why he didn’t call for the long pass, he threw his quarterback under the bus with his answer.
“Couldn’t throw it that far,” Belichick said via Mass Live.
The throw from Jones would have been about 55–60 yards to get it into the end zone, and although not every quarterback may have an arm like Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen, this distance is somewhat expected at the NFL level.
It was a poor way to go out for the Patriots, who overcame a 17–3 halftime deficit to take a 24–17 lead in the fourth quarter. The Raiders responded with a touchdown on their last offensive drive to tie the game.
Mac Jones, #10 of the New England Patriots, looks on after losing to the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Las Vegas.
(Chris Ungar / Getty Images)
The brutal defeat also hurt their playoff hopes. After owning a wild card spot heading into week one, New England is out looking for 7-7 on the season. miami dolphinsThose who have lost three straight games own the final wild card spot with the same record as the team above them, the Los Angeles Chargers, at 8–6.
The Raiders will certainly take it, as they need to win to have any chance at a playoff berth after making it last year as a wild card team. They lost in the Wild Card round to the eventual AFC-champion Cincinnati Bengals.
Jones didn’t have the best game for New England in this one, only completing 13 of his 31 attempts for 112 yards and no touchdowns. The big reason they came back in the game was Stevenson’s 19 carries for 172 yards for a touchdown.
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick looks on before a game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on December 12, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona.
(Christian Peterson/Getty Images)
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Moving on, the Patriots have a tough remaining schedule with the Bengals next week, followed by the Dolphins and Buffalo Bills to end the season.