Caveat away, the New York Jets are a bad football team.
That doesn't mean Sunday's 54-13 win for the New England Patriots should be dismissed just because of the opponent, Tom E. Curran and Phil Perry agree, on the latest episode of the Patriots Talk Podcast.
"You can still learn about a team -- especially a team like the Patriots that's struggled in the ways they had -- after putting together the type of performance they did," Perry said.
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Patriots Talk Podcast: Protection propels Patriots' "Mac Attack" | Listen & Subscribe | Watch on YouTube
Mac Jones surpassed 300 yards through the air for the first time as a pro, completing 24 of 36 passes for 307 yards and two touchdowns. He had his first game without an interception since Week 2, and benefitted from some stellar play from New England's offensive line, which allowed the rookie to be hit only four times and sacked just once.
Mac Jones takes no offense to how some have him labeled
New England Patriots
"Everything to me, as far as Josh McDaniels is concerned, relies on how well are they protecting him," Curran said of Jones. "Once he feels secure that Mac Jones is being protected, he's going to open the door and say, 'the world is yours.' We're gonna run the whole offense the way we ought to."
Speaking of McDaniels, it's almost that time of year again to wonder if he'll finally be leaving New England for a second chance at a head coaching job.
Given the early returns on his work with Jones, is it time for Patriots fans to start wondering who'll be the team's offensive coordinator in 2022?
"What he's doing with Mac Jones right now is a continuation of what we've seen from the Patriots the last few years, which is they're very capable of developing young quarterbacks," Perry said, listing the Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears as two destinations -- complete with quarterbacks drafted ahead of Jones in April -- that could make sense for McDaniels.
Also discussed in this episode: Slot corner Jonathan Jones is out for the season; how will this impact New England's defense? On a somewhat related note, will the team come to rue the day it traded Stephon Gilmore?
Check out the latest episode of the Patriots Talk Podcast on the NBC Sports Boston Podcast Network, or watch on YouTube.