4 Patriots Still on Thin Ice Despite Win Over Steelers

1. Mac Jones

Ironically, the player who takes the number one spot didn't even see the field during Thursday's game. The team's patience with Jones appears to have hit empty.

Quarterback Bailey Zappe brought life to what has been an offensive unit bordering on unwatchable. He threw three touchdown passes in the first half, Jones hasn't thrown three touchdowns in a game since Week 1 of this season.

Jones' rookie season was promising, as the Patriots made the playoffs and the Alabama product earned a Pro Bowl appearance. Since then, it has been all downhill. Jones and offensive play caller Matt Patricia butted heads last season, and Belichick was reportedly furious with the young signal-caller for seeking advice outside of Foxborough regarding the offense's struggles.

He was pulled on four different occasions this season, and his poor play led New England to start Zappe the last two games and demote Jones to the bench.

If Zappe continues to put in productive performances under center and elevates the offense as he did Thursday night, it will become less and less likely that Jones is in New England next season. There just simply might not be any more that Jones can do at this point.