Mac Jones 'learning the hard way' in the NFL

Mac Jones conceded he is learning how the NFL works "the hard way" after the New England Patriots lost an overtime thriller to the Dallas Cowboys.

The Patriots were beaten 35-29 by the Cowboys as Dak Prescott connected with CeeDee Lamb for a game-clinching 35-yard touchdown pass.

It marked New England's fourth successive loss at home as they dropped to 2-4 on the season.

Rookie quarterback Jones has received widespread praise for his performances in his first year in the league having been picked 15th overall by New England.

And he completed over 70 per cent of his passes against the Cowboys, but lamented key errors that played a role in New England coming up short.

Jones fumbled on a sack by Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory and threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown by Trevon Diggs in the fourth quarter.

He responded to the latter error by connecting with Kendrick Bourne for a 75-yard touchdown that gave the Patriots a 29-26 lead on the next play from scrimmage, but New England's defense could not prevent Prescott and the Cowboys from forcing overtime.

Jones: "The margin of error is very slim"

"I left some plays on the field, but it is what it is," Jones said. "In the NFL it takes maybe three or four bad plays and you lose the game.

"The margin of error is very slim, and I guess when I have that feeling that something might be going bad, just throw it away, call a time-out or figure it out and just try not to make a bad play worse, so I could have done that tonight better.

"I think the people around me played really well and we fought really hard, and sometimes you fall short.

"When you look at the big picture, you never want to say you're close, and it's hard to do that, but the games that we've lost we've been two or three plays away, and I guess it's just how the NFL works, and I'm learning that the hard way."