Rookie quarterback Mac Jones throws the first interceptions of his career in a loss to the New Orleans Saints. The New England Patriots’ running game also fails to get going. Saints quarterback Jameis Winston does better.

Foxborough – Rookie quarterback Mac Jones and the New England Patriots had a night to forget in their home game against the New Orleans Saints.

The 23-year-old threw the first three interceptions of his young NFL career in a 28-13 loss, the second of which was carried for a touchdown by the Saints’ pick six. On the plus side, Jones had one touchdown pass and amassed 270 passing yards.

However, Jones also received little relief from the Patriots’ running game, which failed to get going at all. New England only managed a total of 49 rushing yards. Most of those came from Jones himself, who rushed for 28 yards.  Running back James White also had to be carted off the field early in the first half with a knee injury.

First duel without Brady or Brees since 1998

The Saints did better and signal caller Jameis Winston, who finished with just 128 passing yards but went without an interception and threw two touchdown passes. While the Saints are now at two wins and one loss, the Patriots have a 1-2 record.

Interesting fact: For the first time since October 4, 1998, the two teams met without either quarterback legend Tom Brady or Drew Brees on the field. Mac Jones had only been in the world for a few days at that point.

Saints kicker Rosas misses two field goal attempts

The first points of Sunday night’s game came from star running back Alvin Kamara of the Saints, who caught a short pass from Jameis Winston and carried it into the end zone. Kicker Aldrick Rosas converted the extra point to make it 7-0, but the 26-year-old proved much less accurate afterwards.

First he missed a field-goal attempt from 52 yards, then he had the same mishap from 36 yards. No more points were put on the scoreboard until shortly before the break, when Pats QB Jones made the first interception of his young NFL career. And this was fatal, because on the following drive Winston threw to his receiver Marquez Callaway – touchdown!

Patriots kicker Nick Folk returned it 45 yards for the New England franchise’s first points just before halftime, taking a 14-3 lead into the locker rooms.

Patriots: Second half begins with pick six

The Patriots didn’t manage to catch up, however, as Jones made a pick six right at the start of the second half. However, the quarterback was relatively innocent of that, as tight end Jonnu Smith let the catchable ball slip from his fingers. Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins plucked the egg out of the air and carried it into the end zone.

The Patriots only managed one more field goal in the third quarter through kicker Folk. It was not until the last period that the Patriots scored their first touchdown. Mac Jones threw to receiver Kendrick Bourne, Folk made the extra point for 13:21.

But the Patriots’ fragile hopes were quickly dashed. Taysom Hill, the Saints’ alternative quarterback, ran into the end zone to make the score 28-13.