It needed a second-half goal from substitute Henri Camara to cancel out Yakubu's 13th-minute opener, but Jewell still thought his side's performance merited all three points.
He said: "We showed a lot of spirit, played some good football, and there was a great desire and determination not to lose the game after going behind.
"Maybe we did lack a little bit of a cutting edge in order to make their keeper work harder, but overall I thought we were more than worth a point.
"We started the game well so it was disappointing to give the goal away quite early on.
"But we kept going, there was some really good link up play, and we didn't resort to knocking it long.
"The ball was passed well in midfield, we worked hard, and I thought it was as well as we have played this season.
"Remember Middlesbrough are potentially a top-six side with international players, and for us to push them all the way is credit to us."
The game swung on Camara's introduction from the bench, the striker only on the pitch four minutes before he hit the equaliser.
He had missed the last month because of a hamstring strain but showed no signs of rustiness as he tucked away his first goal for the club.
Jewell said: "I put Henri on because I felt we needed more impetus and a little bit more pace at that time.
"Sometimes you get your substitutions right and sometimes you don't, so it was nice this one worked out.
"He had a bandage on his leg but I think that was one for the crowd.
"It wasn't a gamble to play him, although it was a gamble to play Arjan de Zeeuw, who hadn't trained all week, Lee McCulloch played with a pain-killing injection, while Matt Jackson needed an injection to take his place on the bench.
"We have to be careful with Henri because he hasn't had a pre-season and we don't want him breaking down again.
"With him coming back, we have good options up front, and it was nice to see him get off the mark, just as David Connolly did last week."
While Camara grabbed the headlines, Jewell was pleased with how the whole team functioned, highlighting the performances of Graham Kavanagh and Jimmy Bullard.
Kavanagh claimed the man of the match award against his old club, while Bullard soldiered on despite picking up a dead-leg in the first half.
Jewell said: "Hopefully Kav can think we're playing Middlesbrough every week because that was his best game for Wigan.
"He was outstanding,snapping into tackles and passing the ball crisply.
"Kav is a good player and like the rest of the players, knows there is competition for places. As for Jimmy, him and Chimbonda are going to send me bald soon, and he drives me mad!
"He needs to learn the game more – when to play and when not to.
"But he has good spirit, wants the ball all the time, and you can never knock his enthusiasm or endeavour. He got a nasty knock during the first half but wouldn't come off.
"At half-time he was on the exercise bike in the dressing room to keep the leg moving and then went out early to stretch.
"I can think of players who, at 1-0 down against a good team, might want to come off with an injury like that.
"He will be sore today but he played really well for us."
Bullard is expected to be excused duty in tomorrow's Carling Cup game against Bournemouth at the JJB, as are the majority of the players who faced Boro.
Jewell said: "We will have to rotate because there were a lot of tired legs after the game and there simply isn't the recovery time. The side we put out will be going to win the game."