Who knew when it began with such optimism in Foxborough that the Mac Jones Rein of Error would end in Germany.

That’s all, folks. To quote the appropriate song from the even more appropriate musical the Sound of Music, “So Long, farwell, auf Wiedersehen adieu” to the starting days and perhaps overall Patriots career of quarterback Mac Jones.

Unless there is an injury to one of the other lousy quarterbacks on the New England roster, Jones won’t start a game for the Patriots again this year, and probably next year, either, if he’s still here – no matter who is running the show. His foolish pick, an underthrow intended for a wide open tight end Mike Gisecki in the end zone late in Sunday’s certainly winnable 10-6 loss to the Indianapolis Colts was the last straw.

If you missed it, Jones was benched for Bailey Zappe on the Patriots attempt at a game-winning drive in the final two minutes with no time outs. It’s almost unheard of to put a backup in that situation, and it could have been Patriots coach Bill Belichick’s message to owner Robert Kraft: “See, this (Jones) is the guy you wanted. How do you feel now, Robert?”

Jones is done, his confidence shot, and just think it was a mere two years ago when he led the team on a seven-game winning streak as a rookie and the Patriots looked like they had their guy. That streak ended in December against the Colts, and it’s basically been downhill for Jones ever since.

“I just thought it was time for a change,” Belichick told the media after. “Yeah, look, I made the decision, that’s what it was. We’ll deal with next week next week. … I believe in all our players.”

Yeah, right. Part of that answer was to the question of whether Jones’ benching was due to injury as he reportedly went into the X-ray room after the game.

If they were to show if he had any crunch time ability, they came back negative.

Jones is shot. His confidence is gone. He took a verbal tongue lashing from offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien after the fateful play. “It was a terrible throw,” he said of the pick. “Practiced it, hit it in practice, snugged the throw,and I knew where to go. I just didn’t do it. Didn’t do it right.”

And, to his credit, after he was told he was “out of the game” he inferred he supported Zappe and how tough it had to be for him.

“I know we didn’t win, so it’s hard for eveybody, but I have to play better to not even be in that situation,” he said. “It’s not ideal for anybody. No one is going to do good in that situation.”

And, to keep his job – which he won’t – Jones said “To make people believe, you’ve got to be better.”

He wont’t get that chance.

It’s just a brutal mess. The Patriots have a bye week, and there will be QB talk for two weeks about a 2-8 team. When the Patriots visit the Giants on Nov. 26, it could be Bailey Zappe or Will Grier on one side vs. some Jersey kid who still lives at home named Tommy DeVito on the other.

That’s what happens with really bad football teams. They begin to fall on the wrong side of that slim margin, then slip further and further away to the point where the talent shrinks.

“Look, I think a lot of playes are playing pretty good football, but as a team we’re just not doing enough things we need to do to win,” Belichick said. “Everybody needs to do better. Simple as that.”

The owner told the NFL Network he was “disappointed” in the team’s record. Duh.

“I think we all feel that way,” Belichick said. “I think we’re all disappointed in the season. But we’ll keep going here. Seven games to go. …”

Please, make it go fast.

Tom King can be reached at tking@nashuatelegraph.com, or on twitter @Telegraph _TomK.

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