The New England Patriots went on the road and upset the undefeated division rival Buffalo Bills in the Week 5 Sunday Night Football matchup, 23-20. Quarterback Drake Maye and wideout Stefon Diggs were the stars of the day, connecting 10 times for 146 yards. After an early fumble, running back Rhamondre Stevenson rebounded, scoring the Patriots' two touchdowns on the day.
Although it was a solid day for the offense, the Patriots' unsung hero of the game was on the defensive side of the ball.
Marcus Jones Is Unsung Hero of Patriots' Week 5 Win vs. Bills
It was a big game for cornerback Marcus Jones, who recorded seven tackles, two pass deflections, and an interception on the night. The game against the Bills was easily the best game of the season for Jones, as he made his impact early when he went up and forced an incomplete pass against Buffalo WR Keon Coleman, despite a massive size disadvantage(5'8" vs. 6'4").
On top of that, the veteran disruptor led all Patriots defenders with an 81.4 tackling grade on Pro Football Focus, as well as the second-best marks regarding coverage (90.1) and overall defense (90.5)
His biggest play on the night came during the third quarter of the game. Buffalo was on the Patriots' 19 and looking to reclaim the lead when Jones jumped in front of a pass intended for Bills receiver Khalil Shakir and picked off QB Josh Allen. With the interception, the Patriots held the 13-10 lead and drove down the field with Stevenson adding in his second touchdown. Even though Buffalo would tie the game late, Jones bought the Patriots more time earlier and allowed the clock to be killed.
Sunday's effort could be a sign of big things to come for Jones and the defense, as the Patriots' D stood toe-to-toe with the Bills' attack. While Jones didn't get many chances as a punt returner, New England didn't need a big special teams performance to win. He'll get more chances to show off his return skills in the coming weeks.
The upcoming schedule is one of the Patriots' easiest stretches of the season. Three consecutive games against 1-4 teams will give New England plenty of opportunities to increase its momentum, and it'll be interesting to see if Jones will play a key role in any upcoming success the Pats will see.