New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones got the nod to start in Sunday’s away game against the New York Giants despite being benched in the previous game due to a late fourth-quarter interception. However, Coach Bill Belichick opted for backup Bailey Zappe at the beginning of the second half during their 10-7 loss.
In the first half, Jones threw two interceptions, leaving the Patriots trailing 7-0 when Belichick decided to make the switch. Jones completed 12 of 21 passes for 89 yards in the half, and the Giants capitalized on his second interception, scoring the lone touchdown.
Zappe swiftly made an impact, guiding the Patriots on a 60-yard, 11-play drive that resulted in a touchdown, leveling the score at 7. Operating mainly with a shorter passing game, Zappe completed all six of his attempts for 38 yards. By the end of the game, he was 9-of-14 for 54 yards with one interception. Despite engineering a potential game-tying drive late in the fourth quarter, a missed 35-yard field goal by rookie kicker Chad Ryland sealed the Patriots’ fate.
Belichick commented on the quarterback situation, stating that both Jones and Zappe deserved to play, but he did not reveal the starter for the next game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Reflecting on the loss to the Giants, Belichick criticized the team’s poor ball security and turnovers, acknowledging that it was not good enough and too sloppy.
Jones revealed that offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien informed him at halftime about being benched, recognizing his subpar performance. He acknowledged his responsibility, stating, “Bad quarterback play. It wasn’t good enough for me. If the quarterback doesn’t play well, you got no chance.”
Belichick had not disclosed his plans for the starting quarterback during the week of practice, emphasizing that everyone needed to be ready at every position. Practice repetitions were evenly split between Jones and Zappe, with Jones usually getting the initial nod. The complexity of the Giants’ blitz schemes and Jones’ ability to navigate them led some to believe he had an edge during the week.
With a record of 2-8, the Patriots entered Sunday as the AFC’s worst team, facing various issues contributing to their average of 14.1 points per game. Jones had been pulled from three previous games this season, and the shaky quarterback play has been a significant factor in their struggles.
Jones’ season stats included 212 completions on 324 attempts for 2,031 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, with 21 sacks. In 2023, Zappe had completed 10 of 25 passes for 104 yards, with no touchdowns and one interception.
