Questions linger as Pats fall short

Quarterback Mac Jones was adamant his expletive-laced tirade on the sideline during the Patriots 24-10 loss to the Bills was about motivating himself and not an emotional plea about the play calling or anything directed at his coaches. Only he knows for certain. What does seem apparent is his vocal outburst had an undertone: He wants the training wheels to be removed from the offense. “What I said was about throwing it deeper in the short game. I got to execute that part better,” Jones said. “But it’s the short game we kept going to, which is working. But I felt like we needed chunk plays. I shouted that out to kind of get everyone going.” At 6-6 and back in last place in the AFC East following its loss to the Bills, the Patriots’ season is now officially on the brink with five games to play. And the much-talked about offense has yet to find consistency under the primary direction of Matt Patricia, a seasoned defensive coach who is making the deepest foray into offensive football of his career. If there are any major changes coming to help, coach Bill Belichick, pictured, refused to give any hints.