Is it just me or is it every time I am waiting for Mac to get the ball to pull off a comeback, the defense gives up a 1st down. Sure Mac needs more comebacks but has he failed at a comeback attempt yet? There can only be a comeback if there is a defensive stop setting up the comeback.
Yeah this is something I think a lot of people are collectively missing on... Mac has actually "come back" several times already that I can think of but the team fell short; often it was the defense who let them down and it really had nothing to do with him.
Week 1: Should've had the comeback win against the Dolphins, but Harris fumbled in short field goal territory
Week 4: Lead a potential game-winning drive against Tampa ending in a 56-yard field goal attempt - Folk's kick hits the left upright
Week 5: Patriots were down vs Texans 9-22 with 8 min left in 3rd quarter - Mac brings team back to 22-22 and then leads game-winning drive at end of game to win with a short field goal
Week 6: Mac throws a pick 6 (bad) then immediately throws a 75 yard TD over Trevon Diggs to go up on Dallas 29-26 with 2 minutes left; defense gives up a field goal to Dallas and then they lose in OT
Week 15: Patriots down vs Colts 0-20 at the end of the 3rd quarter - Mac brings them all the way to 17-20 with 2:21 left in the game, then defense gives up game-sealing 67 yard TD to Taylor to end the game
Week 16: Patriots down 14-26 into the 4th vs the Bills - Mac gets them to 21-26 with 7:37 remaining but then defense allows 5+ minute long TD drive to Bills to seal loss
Week 18: Patriots down 10-27 into the 4th vs Dolphins - they get back to 24-27 with 2:53 remaining; defense then can't get a stop and Dolphins drain the rest of the clock away
To me it's clear he can come back but something always goes wrong and it's not typically him. Weeks 15, 16 and 18 are all games where the Patriots are down double-digits in the 4th quarter and end up pulling within 3 to 5 at the end, only to have the defense blow it each time. That's not to say the defense was bad in these games, because in general they did play well, but when they just needed that one last stop to set up the last potential comeback drive, each time they fell short. Don't see any way to fault Mac for that or say he isn't able to come back, or needs to show that he can - I think he's already shown it.