Was the Mac Jones interception legal? SkyCam wire could’ve interfered with Patriots QB’s throw before being benched

Those who watched Mac Jones' interception on Monday Night Football were left scratching their heads. What exactly did the quarterback see there? Jones' advocates now have a defense for the intercepted ball. The culprit, they argue, is ESPN.

In a clip posted to Twitter, the intercepted ball appears to make contact with a SkyCam wire. The wire allows for a camera to move around the field and get various shots in ways that conventional photographers cannot. The clip left fans frustrated with the network and questioning why they haven't invested in newer technology to avoid this in the future.

Doug Kyed

@DougKyed

A Bills fan here found that Mac Jones' interception might have hit the SkyCam wire. I slowed the video down as much as possible. Also not sure how much it actually affected things if it did hit the wire, but it's interesting. twitter.com/BillsFilm/stat…

Big Jim

@BillsFilm

Is it just me or did Mac Jones' INT hit the line that the sky cam is attached to? Wasn't underthrown by much. This HAD to affect it. Sorry baht it. #Patriots

1945

307

Is it just me or did Mac Jones' INT hit the line that the sky cam is attached to? Wasn't underthrown by much. This HAD to affect it. Sorry baht it. #Patriots https://t.co/zMC0tncJKC

A Bills fan here found that Mac Jones' interception might have hit the SkyCam wire. I slowed the video down as much as possible. Also not sure how much it actually affected things if it did hit the wire, but it's interesting. twitter.com/BillsFilm/stat… https://t.co/OLMpgnsmLg

Specifically, it has been argued that having a drone would avoid the issue altogether. Skeptics argue that it could also lead to camera operators trying to get increasingly riskier and better angles. They would eventually slip up and disrupt a game, potentially at its most crucial moment.

Whether the SkyCam line had an effect on the interception is a matter of some debate, but it's a very real possibility.

Mac Jones' rocky start to the 2022 NFL season

New England Patriots v Cleveland Browns

Many had the 2022 season pegged as a breakout campaign for Mac Jones. Instead, after four games of action and one benching, he's 1-3 this season. He has thrown two touchdowns against a disheartening six interceptions. His worst game of the season came when he faced the Baltimore Ravens and threw zero touchdowns and three interceptions.

In all three of his losses, he has lost the game by multiple scores. In Week 1, he lost by 13 points to the Miami Dolphins. In Week 3, he lost by 11 points to the Ravens. He also played a strong part in the New England Patriots losing by 19 points to the Chicago Bears in Week 7. In addition to his troubles to start the year, he suffered an ankle injury that knocked him out of the lineup for close to a month.

What has made it worse is that his backup, Bailey Zappe, has looked good in this campaign. While convering for Mac Jones, Zappe was surprisingly effective and led the Patriots to dominant wins over Cleveland and Detroit. Zappe has thrown for 781 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions this season.

Going forward, it is clear that the quarterback remains a question mark for the New England Patriots. Next up, the Patriots face the New York Jets on October 30, at 1:00 PM EST. Will they start Zappe or Jones under center? We will just have to wait and see.

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