FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones had just helped engineer the most exciting comeback of his NFL career Sunday -- a 29-25 win over the Buffalo Bills -- and teammates kept coming up to congratulate him as he stood next to CBS sideline reporter Evan Washburn as part of a postgame interview.
Jones shared a celebratory embrace with defensive tackle Davon Godchaux as Bruce Springsteen's "Glory Days" played inside Gillette Stadium, followed by long-snapper Joe Cardona and defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr. Then, just when it appeared there was an opening for Jones to conduct the interview, safety Jabrill Peppers came charging in, followed by linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. and tight end Mike Gesicki.
They all seemed to recognize the magnitude of the moment for Jones, and their actions reflected a potential springboard for the 2-5 Patriots as they turn the page to Sunday's road game against the 5-2 Miami Dolphins (1 p.m. ET, CBS).
"I think our entire football team is happy for Mac, to see him go out and perform the way he did," said Matthew Slater, a team captain and its longest-tenured player.
"Certainly it's been a trying year for him, just like it's been for all of us. But it says a lot about who he is as a young man to be able to go out and put all that behind him and perform the way he did. When he plays well, it gives our whole football team a boost."
Jones was at his best in the most critical moments, leading his second career game-winning drive in the fourth quarter or overtime (the other was Week 5 of 2021 at Houston). He was 11-of-13 for 127 yards and two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, and teammates noted his poise under pressure.
Football might be the ultimate team game, but it's those types of situations -- trailing by three points with 1:58 remaining and getting the ball at your own 25-yard line -- that can define a quarterback's career.
Offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien acknowledged the experience of leading a game-winning final drive is beneficial as part of Jones' career growth.
"He did a really good job. He's only a third-year player -- you're not talking about a guy that's been around 12 years -- so every game is a learning situation for him. Certainly he has a lot of experience from his rookie year and last year, but he's still a young player," he said Tuesday.
"The guys around him did a great job, and I think that's really, really important. It's a team game. We dealt with some adversity in the game as a team and we were able to come back. He got us into the right plays on the last drive."
The 25-year-old Jones has struck a forward-looking theme in the aftermath of the win, saying: "It's just a crumb. Just keep picking up those crumbs and eventually you'll have a whole loaf of bread."
It might be harder to cook up similar results against a Dolphins defense that ranks fourth in the NFL in sacks per pass play (24 total) under first-year coordinator Vic Fangio. But as the scene on the field reflected Sunday, players are rallying around him, and the media-based chatter of Jones possibly losing his starting job has subsided for the moment.
"He brought great energy. He was very efficient. Took care of the football. He gave us a chance to win," Slater said. "You love to see that from a young man who has been through as much as he has this season -- to keep fighting the good fight and be rewarded for that. We look to continue that trend moving forward."
"We expect that out of him," added linebacker Jahlani Tavai. "We know the type of player that he's capable of being."