Marcus Jones returned a punt 94 yards for a touchdown to send the New England Patriots on their way to a 33-15 victory over the New York Giants on Monday night.

With its 10^th consecutive victory, New England became the first NFL team to reach 11 wins in the 2025 season.

Jones’ touchdown return came off a 54-yard punt by New York’s Jamie Gillan and put the Patriots ahead 10-0 with 5:17 left in the first quarter as they raced to a 30-7 halftime lead.

The punt return was the 75^th of Jones’ career, qualifying the former Enterprise High School and Troy standout for the NFL’s career record book, and his 14.63-yards-per-return average went to No. 1 in league history.

Jones replaced George McAfee, who averaged 12.78 yards on 112 punt returns for the Chicago Bears from 1940 through 1950, with three years missed for military service in World War II.

Later in the game, Jones had punt returns of 17 and 13 yards, bringing his all-time best average to 14.64 yards.

Only twice in NFL history has a player from an Alabama high school or college had a longer punt-return touchdown than Jones did on Monday night.

On Nov. 24, 1968, San Diego Chargers cornerback Speedy Duncan from Druid High School in Tuscaloosa returned a punt 95 yards for a touchdown in a 37-15 loss to the New York Jets in an AFL game.

On Jan. 1, 2017, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill from West Alabama returned a punt 95 yards for a touchdown in a 37-27 victory over the Chargers.

The third punt-return touchdown of Jones’ career was his second of 2025. Jones returned a punt 87 yards for a touchdown during a 42-13 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 28.

Jones’ Monday-night effort tied the franchise record for the longest punt-return touchdown, equaling Julian Edelman’s 94-yarder in a 38-7 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Jan. 2, 2011.

New England quarterback Drake Maye completed 24-of-31 passes for 282 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions on Monday night.

In addition to Jones, who started at cornerback for the Patriots, seven other players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field during the New York-New England game:

• Christian Barmore (Alabama) started at defensive tackle for the Patriots. Barmore made five tackles.
• Carlton Davis (Auburn) started at cornerback for the Patriots. Davis made five tackles, recorded one tackle for loss and broke up two passes.
• Patriots tight end CJ Dippre (Alabama) was designated as a game-day inactive.
• Cor’Dale Flott (Saraland) started at cornerback for the Giants. Flott made five tackles and recorded one tackle for loss.
• Patriots linebacker Anfernee Jennings (Dadeville, Alabama) made two tackles on defense, recorded one tackle for loss and had one tackle on special teams.
• Giants offensive linebacker Evan Neal (Alabama) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
• Giants defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches (Central-Phenix City) made one tackle.
• Patriots safety Dell Pettus (Sparkman, Troy) did not record any stats.
• Darius Slayton (Auburn) started at wide receiver for the Giants. Slayton had two receptions for 41 yards and one touchdown. Slayton’s first touchdown of the 2025 season came on a 30-yard pass from quarterback Jaxson Dart as New York reduced New England’s lead to 17-7 with 12:46 left in the first half. Slayton also caught a 2-point conversion pass after New York’s second touchdown.
• Patriots wide receiver Jeremiah Webb (South Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
• Giants quarterback Jameis Winston (Hueytown) dressed for the game but did not play. Winston had started the previous two games and thrown for 567 yards in a 27-20 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Nov. 16 and a 34-27 overtime loss to the Detroit Lions on Nov. 23. Winston returned to the sideline with the return of rookie QB Jaxson Dart from a concussion.

FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE

New England (11-2) does not play against until Dec. 14 as the Patriots enter their bye week. New England will return against the Buffalo Bills at noon CST Dec. 14 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

New York (2-11) also is set for its open date in Week 14 of the NFL season. The Giants return against the Washington Commanders at noon Dec. 14 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

As Alabama football prepares for an SEC championship, the Crimson Tide is also on the cusp of securing the next wave of its future.

The start of the early signing period in college football kicks off Wednesday, Dec. 3, and players like five-star running back Ezavier Crowell, five-star linebacker Xavier Griffin and four-star wide receiver Cederian Morgan are set to officially sign with the Crimson Tide.

Here’s a look at where Alabama’s 2026 recruiting class stands as the early signing period nears.

Alabama football recruiting needs 2026

Alabama has secured much of its 2026 recruiting class, even if the Crimson Tide has had a few recent fireworks in the 2026 class.

The Crimson Tide lost a commitment from four-star offensive lineman Sam Utu less than two weeks before signing day. Alabama secured a commitment from College of San Mateo offensive tackle Tyrell Miller to join Chris Booker, Bear Fretwell and Jared Doughty up front. And on Sunday, Nov. 30, Zyan Gibson wavered in his commitment to the Crimson Tide before releasing a statement saying he was standing firm, citing “miscommunication” as his reason for reportedly leaving the class.

But the headline names of the 2026 class are set in stone, players like Griffin, Crowell, Morgan, five-star safety Jireh Edwards and five-star cornerback Jorden Edmonds, who are locked into what Alabama is building in 2026.

Alabama football recruiting rankings

As the start of the early signing period nears, Alabama has the third-ranked class per 247Sports’ composite rankings behind No. 1 USC and No. 2 Georgia.

Alabama is one of three classes that have secured four five-star players in the 2026 class along with Oregon and Notre Dame. The average rating for each player in Alabama’s 2026 class is the third-highest in college football behind Oregon and LSU.

Alabama football 2026 recruiting class

• Xavier Griffin: 5-star linebacker, Gainesville, Georgia
• Jorden Edmonds: 5-star cornerback, Marietta, Georgia
• Ezavier Crowell: 5-star running back, Jackson, Alabama
• Jireh Edwards: 5-star safety, Upper Marlboro, Maryland
• Cederian Morgan: 4-star wide receiver, Alexander City, Alabama
• Jett Thomalla: 4-star quarterback, Omaha, Nebraska
• Mack Sutter: 4-star tight end, Dunlap, Illinois
• Jamarion Matthews: 4-star defensive lineman, Gainesville, Georgia
• Nolan Wilson: 4-star defensive lineman, Picayune, Mississippi
• Chris Booker: 4-star offensive lineman, Atlanta, Georgia
• Jared Doughty: 4-star offensive lineman, Atlanta, Georgia
• Corey Howard: 3-star defensive lineman, Valdosta, Georgia
• Rihyael Kelley: 3-star safety, Cincinnati, Ohio
• Kamhariyan Johnson: 4-star defensive lineman, Muscle Shoals, Alabama
• Javari Barnett: 3-star running back, Tampa, Florida
• Owen Cabell: 3-star wide receiver, Nashville, Tennessee
• Bear Fretwell: 3-star offensive lineman, Brooklet, Georgia
• JJ Finch: 3-star defensive lineman, Indianapolis, Indiana
• Brian Williams Jr.: 3-star wide receiver, Orlando, Florida
• Tayden Kaawa: 3-star quarterback, Honolulu, Hawaii
• Zay Hall: 3-star linebacker, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
• Tyrell Miller; College of San Mateo, Union City, California

When is early signing day?

The start of the early signing period is Wednesday, Dec. 3 and lasts through Friday, Dec. 5

The regular signing period begins Feb. 4, 2026.

Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.