Pats’ Jones outduels Wilson in matchup of rookie QBS

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Mac Jones kept his mistakes to a minimum, moved the ball down the field and did enough to earn his first NFL victory with the New England Patriots.

Thanks, also, in large part to a nightmarish outing by Zach Wilson for the New York Jets.

Jones was smart and efficient, Damien Harris and James White had touchdown runs and the Patriots intercepted Wilson four times in a 25-6 victory on Sunday.

“It feels good,” Jones said. “It’s what everyone is saying: It’s hard to win in the NFL. You’ve got to take it for what it’s worth. We’ll get better. Anyone who watched the game would agree that the offense can play better.”

At least he and the Patriots were better than Wilson and the Jets.

And it wasn’t close. Jones, the No. 15 overall pick in the draft, went 22 of 30 for 186 yards for the Patriots (1-1) a week after going 29 for 39 for 281 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Miami. Wilson, who went 19 of 33 for 210 yards and the four INTS, struggled right away.

It got so bad early in the fourth quarter, when the No. 2 overall draft pick overthrew a receiver, that the fans at Metlife Stadium — boisterous and excited early at their first game since Dec. 22, 2019, because of the pandemic — began booing the young QB.

“They should be booing, right?” Wilson said. “We didn’t play well on offense. Our defense gave us a good chance to win. We didn’t execute, we didn’t move the ball well and we didn’t score any points. We’ve got to do a better job there.

“It’s on my shoulders. I’ve got to do better.”

Wilson’s struggles might have been expected: Bill Belichick is 22-6 against rookie quarterbacks since taking over as Patriots coach in 2000.

New England topped New York (0-2) for the 11th straight time.

Jets quarterback Zach Wilson, the second overall pick, throws under pressure from Patriots cornerback Joejuan Williams. Wilson was intercepted four times.

PHOTOS BY FRANK FRANKLIN II/AP Patriots quarterback Mac Jones, the 15th overall pick, is sacked by Jets defensive end John Franklin-myers during the first half Sunday.