How Mac Jones plans to handle his first meeting with Bills Mafia

Author Alex Barth

December 1st, 2021 3:54 PM

Nothing is easy on rookie quarterbacks in the NFL, but playing on the road can be especially challenging. Three months into his pro career, Mac Jones has so far skewed away from that trend.

The Patriots have won each of Jones’ first five road starts. That makes Jones just the third rookie QB in NFL history to start his road career 5-0, joining Ben Roethlisberger and Dak Prescott, who each got to 6-0.

Granted, the Patriots’ first five road opponents haven’t exactly featured the most intimidating fan bases. They’ve visited the Jets, Texans, Chargers, Panthers, and Falcons. Most of their respective buildings were half-full at best, if not filled with a majority of Patriots fans.

That won’t be the case as Jones goes for his 6-0 road mark, and the Patriots go for their seventh win in a row Monday night in Buffalo. Bills Mafia has earned every bit of its rowdy, drunken, table-smashing, sex toy-throwing reputation. So how does Jones plan to handle such a ruckus environment? Ignore them.

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  "I think it’s great energy, but I don’t ever really try to watch or anything. I just look at my phone or just sit there," Jones said, when asked on Wednesday if he feeds off the negative energy of opposing fans. "I guess some people can look at it and enjoy it. It is fun, wherever you’re playing, sometimes to just get a peek at the city or whatever and see everybody."
  
  Jones is no stranger to wild environments having played in the SEC. "I’ve been to a lot of cool stadiums and stuff. I’ve been both the backup quarterback and the starter. That’s college," Jones said. Notably, he started the 2019 Iron Bowl - the rivalry game between Alabama and Auburn - and threw for 335 yards and 4 touchdowns on the road.
  
  "I haven’t really played a ton of NFL games. This’ll be new for me, but I know a lot of guys on the team have played in a lot of big games," Jones acknowledged. "At the end of the day, you’ve just got to block out the noise the best you can. It’s going to be loud. You just have to prepare yourself mentally for that. That’s pretty much all you can do. You can look at the past and see what you’ve gone through, but you won’t be able to experience it until it happens."
  
  "I think people who love football want to get a chance to play in games like these," Jones continued. "I know all the guys on both teams want to play in games like this. It’ll be a great experience. I know they have a bunch of great fans, and it’s football, so you’ve just got to go out there and play the game that we’ve all played since we were little kids."

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  Bill Belichick also didn't seem overly concerned about the crowd noise when speaking with the media Wednesday morning. "We prepare for it every week. It’s probably louder out there in practices than in the game. Either way, it’s loud," Belichick said.
  
  It's not uncommon for the Patriots to play loud music in practice leading up to road games. That music can get so loud, it can sometimes be heard in the Patriots Place shopping center on the opposite side of the stadium from the practice fields.
  
  The biggest adjustment for Jones Monday night might be the weather. Currently, the forecast for Buffalo on Monday calls for a rain/snow mix during the day, with temperatures in the high-20's and 20 MPH winds around kickoff. Jones, who grew up in Jacksonville, spoke last week about adjusting to playing in the cold.

MORE: Matthew Judon’s shot at PFF

Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at abarth@985TheSportsHub.com.

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Author Alex Barth

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Mac Jones,New England Patriots,NFL,patriots