San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones nearly lost the game for his team on Sunday with a fourth-quarter interception.
Jones, who ultimately led the 49ers to a 16-15 win over the Arizona Cardinals, somehow found humor in what happened. His pass to wide receiver Ricky Pearsall got intercepted, and while the Cardinals only had a a punt after the Dadrion Taylor-Demerson pick, Arizona eventually went ahead on a safety, 15-13.
“I mean, I threw it right to the guy so it wasn’t like he made a good play,” Jones told reporters with a laugh. “I mean, good for him. He caught it. Like, awesome. But it was technically the second part of my read and I took a hitch to it and ripped it and he was standing right there, so.”
For Jones, interceptions have been no laughing matter in his young career, which began with the New England Patriots in 2021 out of Alabama. Jones threw 36 interceptions during his time in New England, and the team sputtered with him under center, amid an 18-24 record when he started.
It didn’t improve in Jacksonville last year when he threw eight interceptions in seven starts for the Jaguars as a backup. Jones signed with the 49ers as a backup this year, and his opportunity came when starter Brock Purdy injured his toe in Week 1.
Jones has made the most of it with a 2-0 start, and on Sunday, he led a game-winning drive to erase the 15-13 deficit. He finished with 27-41 passing for 284 yards and a touchdown versus the pick.
Mac Jones Stepped Up When Needed Most
Jones’ touchdown came in the fourth quarter when he connected with fullback Kyle Juszczyk for a 1-yard pass and a 13-6 lead. Overall, Jones led four scoring drives as the other three resulted in field goals by kicker Eddy Pineiro.
For that final drive, Jones ran no huddle and marched the 49ers 63 yards on 10 plays in 1:46. He completed five passes for all 63 of those yads in the process.
“I love it. I’ve always been good at good at it or whatever,” Jones said. “Like I said, I enjoy it because I think it takes thinking out of it and you just go out there and play, and you get into a rhythm. I feel like we’ve done a good job trying to double up between the end of the half and the third quarter.”
“I feel like can do a better job obviously in the third quarter part, but two-minute, end of half, and end the game just two different things,” Jones added. “Your mindset’s the same. You’re trying to run the play that’s called, and you’re not trying to chase the play. You need a touchdown or field goal, but you just got to take it one play at a time.”
Mac Jones Credits the Defense
Overall, Jones credited the 49ers‘ defense for the win. San Francisco held the Cardinals to 260 yards of total offense and limited quarterback Kyler Murray to 196 total yards and a touchdown.
“They’re the only reason we were in it, to be honest,” Jones said. “They kept making plays and getting the ball back, really an explosive offense and explosive quarterback in [Arizona Cardinals QB] Kyler Murray.
“They did a great job and [LB] Fred [Warner] and everybody just having a plan and executing the plan,” Jones added. “So I’m really thankful to have that. And as a quarterback, when you know that in the back of your head, you know you have a chance. When you don’t, it’s hard because you sometimes they press and stuff, but they did a good job.”
49ers’ Mac Jones Makes Head-Turning Comment After Win Against Cardinals