jones and mego: quarterback bailey zappe joins the show following the patriots thursday night football win vs. steelers
The Patriots have something in Bailey Zappe.
I’m not saying he should be their starting quarterback for the future, and I’m not even sure he’s earned the right to be on the roster in 2024. But after New England’s now-starting quarterback went into Pittsburgh on a short week and beat the Steelers as they were fighting for their playoff lives, it’s clear that they have something in their second-year signal caller.
“You know, he's a calm, cool, collected guy,” Patriots captain and tight end Hunter Henry told the Amazon Prime postgame show of Zappe following their win. "I'm happy for him... He came out here and slung it around pretty good."
“I just saw a very confident quarterback,” JuJu Smith-Schuster said of Zappe, who helped the receiver tally a 90-yard performance on four catches, his best as a Patriot. “Someone out there just having fun, being himself, and just zipping it around and, you know, making the best of opportunities."
Even head coach Bill Belichick gave Zappe a rave review following his 240-yard, three touchdowns performance:
“Bailey's been pretty consistent,” he told WEEI’s The Greg Hill Show on Monday. “For the most part, he's done a good job of taking care of the ball at the quarterback position. We haven't had a lot of negative plays... He's done a good job at managing the team, taking care of the ball… Bailey works hard and tries to correct his mistakes, tries to learn each week and learn each day. I’m sure he’ll continue to do that.”
Zappe isn’t a world-beater by any means. In fact prior to Thursday, he hadn’t thrown a touchdown pass since Week 7 of 2022 and was completing just 50% of his throws while in mop-up duty for Mac Jones this season.
What Zappe is, however, is a spark for a 3-10 Patriots team as they enter the latter half of an otherwise disappointing season. Even if his teammates don’t want to say it out loud.
"Not really,” linebacker Jahlani Tavai told The Greg Hill Show on Monday when asked if the switch at quarterback gave the defense a jolt. “We were so focused on making sure we got the ball back into the offense's hands, so we were dialed into what we had to do to find opportunities and ways to get the ball back. We were really happy with how our offense performed and we’re just hoping that everything just keeps rolling.”
Defensive lineman Deatrich Wise Jr., following Thursday's win, was also asked if Zappe’s performance provided the team with a spark.
“You know, he had a great game,” the Patriots’ captain explained. “He had a really good game. He really did his thing tonight. 21 points. Came out in some great moments, played well, and I think we definitely used that momentum on defense and special teams.”
If anything, Zappe's teammates are gravitating toward the idea of having him under center for the remainder of the season and the offense has both a) limited their mistakes with him at the helm and b) started to score some points (at least on Thursday).
This has, in turn, allowed New England's other units to play better complementary football and as a whole, look like a much more competent football team. One that wants to win football games. A revelation that may even help save his head coach’s job.
To me, that’s something.
Make sure to follow Mike on Twitter @mikekadlick, and follow @WEEI for the latest up-to-date Patriots and Boston sports news!
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