New England Patriots should let Mac Jones cook vs Buffalo Bills

Unleashing Mac Jones could tell the fate of his future with the New England Patriots.

In an emotional Week 18 matchup against the Buffalo Bills, Mac Jones and the New England Patriots will look to clinch a playoff spot with a win.

With the Bills motivated to win for Damar Hamlin, the Patriots may not stand a chance going up against a more talented team in a stadium that will be charged up.  Basically, the challenge for the Patriots will be to match the intensity and play a clean game, something they haven’t done all season long.

Another thing they haven’t done is adjust on the offensive side of the football. While the defense has carried the Patriots, it is the offense that will be the key to possibly pulling off a massive upset in Buffalo.

First, they must lean on their running game behind a refreshed Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson.  Then, they must let Mac Jones throw the ball downfield. Perhaps with an effective play action game that will be more effective if Harris and Stevenson are controlling the ground game.

Simply put, the Patriots are going to have to be aggressive to win this game.  They also need to see what they have in Mac Jones.  They need to see what he can do on the field as a leader.  They also need to know if he is their man.

New England Patriots QB Mac Jones needs to find out who he is as a leader

Furthermore, Jones needs to gain his own confidence.  What better way to do that than leading his team to victory in a tough environment against a team favorite to ride to the Super Bowl.

Let Mac cook.  Fans have been saying that all season long as he has shown flashes of being able to do so.  The last couple of weeks alone, Jones has found connections with Kendrick Bourne and Tyquan Thornton.  He has missed some throws, but when he has time in the pocket, he has been effective.

If we go back to the Baltimore Ravens game, a game in which he got injured, Mac Jones and the Patriots offense were showing signs of breaking through.  That was the game DeVante Parker really showed what he can do as a big, physical receiver who can go up and get the ball.

We’ve also seen Mac connect with Nelson Agholor and obviously he has built a repertoire with Jakobi Myers.

With an 85.8 passer rating for the season, it has been a bit of a regression for the Patriots second-year quarterback.  Much of the blame is on the change in offensive philosophy and the inconsistency along the offensive line, but Mac Jones has played his part.  He has lost his cool on the field repeatedly and been off with his accuracy, which wasn’t an issue in his rookie season.

Now, with the season on the line, can he pull off his best game as a pro?  Can the Patriots and Jones within the onslaught of emotion they will be playing against?

"“There’s a game on our mind, but there’s also a lot bigger things than football itself,” Jones said during his press conference on Thursday. “We’re definitely still feeling it and we feel for him and his family and all that. Just trying to do everything we can to prepare, but at the same time, we’re all there for him.”"

What happened to Hamlin did put life over football into perspective in everyone’s minds.  But, as we get back to football, there are some stories at play for the New England Patriots who could still back into the playoffs even if they lose.  The big question is whether Mac Jones is the quarterback for this team.

The eye test says no as far as this season goes, but one game can change that.  If he is unleashed and becomes the reason the team either wins the game or are competitive in this game, then it will serve as a positive for him going forward.