New England Patriots

Patriots Stumble in OT vs. Cowboys, Remain Winless at Home

The Patriots are 0-4 at Gillette Stadium in 2021

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 17: Mac Jones #10 of the New England Patriots stands on the field in the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at Gillette Stadium on October 17, 2021 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

The first overtime game of the Mac Jones era in New England featured a little bit of everything.

One thing it didn't feature, however, was Jones's first win at Gillette Stadium in the NFL.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott hit CeeDee Lamb for a 35-yard touchdown pass in the extra session for a walk-off 35-29 triumph to drop the Patriots to 2-4 on the season and still in search of their first home win.

It's the latest in a season New England has remained in search of its first win since it still played at Foxboro Stadium, when the team started 0-6 in 1993.

Jones experienced a full gambit of emotions in the game, between a fourth quarter pick-six followed up by the longest throw of his career on consecutive throws. He finished the afternoon 15 of 21 for 229 yards, two touchdowns and a pick, good enough for a 119.0 passer rating -- the highest of his young career.

"I think that's the ebbs and flows of football," Jones said. "You've just got to play the next play and do your job to the best of your ability. I left some plays on the field, but it is what it is."

The Patriots held initial leads of 7-0 and 14-7, first on a Damien Harris 4-yard touchdown run and next on a Hunter Henry 20-yard touchdown pass from Jones -- the third straight game with a scoring grab for Henry.

The Cowboys responded first on a Blake Jarwin 1-yard touchdown catch from Prescott and after a Greg Zuerlein 30-yard field goal cut the Dallas deficit to 14-10 prior to the half, a 1-yard touchdown pass from Prescott to Lamb gave the Cowboys their first lead with 4:49 remaining in the third.

Zuerlein added a 45-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter for a 20-14 edge before rookie Rhamondre Stevenson's 1-yard touchdown run gave New England the lead back with 6:23 remaining; it was the first score of Stevenson's career.

The Patriots maintained that lead after Zuerlein missed a 51-yard field goal, but Jones's pick-six put the Cowboys back ahead, 26-21.

Never fear, Jones's very next throw was the 75-yard catch-and-run to Kendrick Bourne for the go-ahead touchdown with 2:11 left in regulation.

But Zuerlein would redeem his earlier miss in the waning seconds, drilling a 49-yard field goal with 20 seconds left to tie the game and ultimately send it to the extra session.

Second-year safety Kyle Dugger also had a career first with an interception on a ball batted away by teammate Justin Bethel in the second quarter.

Prescott finished 36 of 51 passing for 445 yards -- the most allowed by a Bill Belichick-coached Patriots team, while Dallas amassed 567 yards of offense for the game -- also the most surrendered by New England under Belichick.

"Yeah, he did a good job," Belichick said of Prescott. "There was a lot of times where I thought we had him covered pretty well, but he was able to extend some plays and made some great throws. They have very good skill players."

The Patriots remain home next week to host the New York Jets (1-4) at 1 p.m. The Patriots defeated the Jets at MetLife Stadium in Week 2, 25-6, goading rookie quarterback Zach Wilson into four interceptions.

New England has won 11 straight games against the Jets and 19 of its last 21, with both losses coming in overtime.

New York has not beaten the Patriots in regulation since the 2010 AFC Divisional Playoffs, a 28-21 stunner at Gillette Stadium, and have not won there in the regular season since 2006.

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