Tensions are at a recent high among Patriots fans because New England has dropped five games for the first time since 2009.

Without some help, the Patriots will be playing on wild-card weekend for the first time since 2009. The Patriots’ playoff run that year came to a screeching halt when the Baltimore Ravens upset the Patriots in the first round in Foxboro.

So, there are reasons to be concerned.

But let’s inject some positivity into the Patriots fanbase. And the biggest reason to be optimistic about the Patriots — after Sunday’s 17-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers — was the play of undrafted rookie cornerback JC Jackson.

Call this hyperbole, but Jackson might be Bill Belichick’s best undrafted find yet. The 23-year-old cornerback made his third career start Sunday and shadowed Steelers breakout wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and limited him to just four catches on 10 targets for 40 yards. Jackson allowed just one first down. He broke up a pass and was in coverage on an interception by safety Duron Harmon.

Quarterbacks have a 30.7 passer rating when targeting Jackson.

Smith-Schuster has 95 receptions for 1,274 yards with six touchdowns on the season. This was his second least productive game of the year.

Jackson was unbelievable in an ultra-difficult matchup.

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger targeted Jackson on the very first play of the game. Jackson had perfect coverage down the sideline on Smith-Schuster.

Roethlisberger’s next throw to Smith-Schuster also fell incomplete. On the route, Jackson did an impressive job flipping his hips but staying on Smith-Schuster.



Jackson was in blanket coverage while the pass fell incomplete.

Jackson let up his lone first down when he was in near-flawless coverage. Smith-Schuster simply made a better play.



Smith-Schuster leaped up and caught the ball off Jackson’s helmet for a 22-yard grab.

Smith-Schuster made a 9-yard grab against Jackson on the next play, but the rookie corner did a nice job of pushing him out of bounds before the receiver could pick up a first down.

Roethlisberger targeted Jackson on consecutive plays again midway through the second quarter. The first fell short and incomplete.

The next flew over Smith-Schuster’s head and into safety Duron Harmon’s arms for an interception.

Jackson showed off his tackling and closing speed on his next target later in the second quarter. He first had to weave through traffic then double back to keep up with Smith-Schuster.

Jackson ran Smith-Schuster out of bounds before the receiver could hit the first-down marker.

Roethlisberger targeted Smith-Schuster with Jackson in coverage again on the next snap. Jackson had Smith-Schuster in his pocket, and the ball fell incomplete.