Watch: Did Mac Jones' 'Monday Night Football' interception hit ESPN's 'SkyCam' wire?
New England Patriots second-year pro Mac Jones made his return to action during the team's Week 7 "Monday Night Football" loss to the Chicago Bears after missing the last three games with a high ankle sprain. The 2021 Pro Bowler went just 3-for-6 for 13 yards, while throwing one interception, before being replaced by rookie Bailey Zappe.
Though it was reported before the game (and confirmed Tuesday by head coach Bill Belichick) that he had pre-planned to play both signal-callers in the contest, Zappe and other players have since admitted that they didn't know exactly when the switch was going to be made. On Tuesday night, video of Jones' interception began to circulate on social media, with some making the argument that it may not have been the Alabama product's fault, and that ESPN's "SkyCam" wire got in the way of the pass.
"But here's the rub: If the ball did hit the wire, and if either the officiating crew, the replay official, or a member of the Patriots' coaching staff had noticed, then Jones and the Patriots might have been bailed out," WBZ's Michael Hurley wrote. "That's because the NFL rulebook states this: 'If a loose ball in play strikes a video board, guide wire, sky cam, or any other object, the ball will be dead immediately, and the down will be replayed at the previous spot.' The on-field officials could have blown the play dead, or the replay official could have initiated a review, or the Patriots could have challenged the play. That is, of course, if anyone had noticed."
Although Belichick said after the game that the timing of the quarterback switch didn't relate to Jones' interception, it would have been interesting to see if the 24-year-old played any longer if the pick hadn't occurred.
The rookie helped get the Patriots back into the game upon taking over -- leading the team on back-to-back touchdown drives -- but struggled in the second half. Zappe ended the night 14-for-22 for 185 passing yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions, while coughing up one fumble as well.
Belichick hasn't yet named a Week 8 starter. New England (3-4) will travel to face the red-hot New York Jets (5-2) at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday.
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