Patriots' Mike Gesicki defends Mac Jones after season-saving win

New England Patriots tight end Mike Gesicki caught the game-winning touchdown pass thrown by Mac Jones late in Sunday's 29-25 win over the Buffalo Bills and then praised his quarterback who may have temporarily saved his New England career in Week 7.

"I love him," Gesicki said about Jones while speaking with Sports Illustrated NFL insider Albert Breer. "Love playing with him. He has great energy and great leadership. For me, I think he throws a really catchable ball. That makes the job a lot easier as a receiver."

The Patriots lost five of their first six games this season, and head coach Bill Belichick benched the struggling Jones in back-to-back contests earlier this month. Some thought ahead of the weekend that undrafted rookie Malik Cunningham could replace Jones if Sunday's game against Buffalo went as many expected, but the 2021 first-round draft pick instead delivered what is, to date, his best performance of the campaign. 

Jones completed 25-of-30 passes for 272 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's victory that improved the Patriots to 2-5 on what previously felt like a lost season for the organization and the signal-caller. That outing should silence chatter about his place atop the depth chart through at least the start of this Sunday's matchup at the 5-2 Miami Dolphins.

"I’m just happy for him," Gesicki added about Jones. "He’s had some criticism. It’s been unfair, honestly. There’s so many factors that go into winning a football game. Obviously, the quarterback gets the praise when you win and the negative when you guys lose. It doesn’t all fall on his shoulders. I’m just happy that today, back against the wall, we gotta go down there and win the game. That’s exactly what we did. We did it because of him." 

According to ESPN stats, Jones began Monday ranked 23rd in the NFL among qualified players with a 42.4 adjusted QBR and tied for 23rd with an 81.8 passer rating on the season. He tossed seven touchdown passes and seven interceptions across New England's first seven games. 

As of Monday afternoon, OddsChecker listed the Patriots as massive 10-point underdogs for this Sunday's matchup in Miami. Jones and company will look to prove doubters wrong for the second straight week and ahead of the Oct. 31 trade deadline.