New England Patriots - NESN.com
The New England Patriots are back in the AFC Championship Game for the first time since 2018. The Patriots defeated the Houston Texans by a score of 28-16 on Sunday at Gillette Stadium.
This was a unique game that had Pats fans biting their nails for much of it, but one key play that turned the tide in New England’s favor was a second-quarter pick-6 by Marcus Jones, which put the Pats in front.
According to Patriots Communications, this was the first playoff pick-6 by a Patriots player since Asante Samuel had one in the 2006 AFC Championship game.
Jones is also the second player in NFL history to have two interception return touchdowns and two punt return touchdowns in a single season (playoff included). The only other player to do it is cornerback Phillip Buchanon (2003, Oakland Raiders).
Jones’s playoff production follows a stellar regular season.
The versatile cornerback appeared in all 17 games for New England, recording 65 tackles (47 solo), 2.0 sacks, and three interceptions.
On special teams, Jones handled punt returns effectively, posting 21 returns for 363 yards and two touchdowns during the regular season. This earned him Second-Team All-Pro honors as a punt returner from the Associated Press.
