2021 NFL Power Rankings, Week 4: Rams claim top spot, Steelers and Bears plummet

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 26: Head coach Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates a third quarter touchdown throw by Matthew Stafford #9 in the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at SoFi Stadium on September 26, 2021 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) /

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New England Patriots (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

47. . . Previous: 17th. New England Patriots. 20. team

Though we’re still talking about a small sample size three weeks into the season, it’s starting to look like there might be some real growing pains for Mac Jones in his first season with the New England Patriots and in the NFL. And the Saints picking him off three times in a 28-13 loss for Bill Belichick’s club was perfect evidence of that.

Jones is an extremely smart and accurate young quarterback; that’s undeniable. But there are problems with his game that can be exacerbated jumping from college to the NFL. He lacks mobility, meaning that pressure can force him to make bad throws or decisions. On top of that, his arm strength is lacking in comparison to his peers, which further increases the degree of difficulty for him to find success.

I remain fully confident that, in a long-term view, that Jones can develop and the Patriots can put the pieces around him for the team to have a successful offense with him at quarterback. But against teams that aren’t the Jets or that don’t have a good defense this season, the Pats are going to be outmatched.

The Saints didn’t even play all that well offensively and still toruched the Patriots on Sunday. That says all you need to know about the outlook in New England.

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