Bill Belichick Faces Scathing Criticism as Bailey Zappe Channels Inner Tom Brady to Inspire Patriots to Win Against Broncos

In his second season, Mac Jones has posed challenges for the Patriots, following a promising rookie year that saw him as a Pro Bowler and led the team back to the playoffs. With five starts, Jones has recorded three touchdowns, seven interceptions, and 11 sacks. His decision-making has come under scrutiny, leading to a significant decline in performance. But the Patriots have found a new ray of hope!

The Patriots’s new treasure will be the stellar performance of second-year quarterback Bailey Zappe. In a Thursday night football upset against the Steelers, Bailey Zappe’s three touchdown passes led the Patriots to a 21-18 victory. Zappe, making only his second start of the season in Week 14, raised questions about why Bill Belichick took so long to choose him over Mac Jones.

Bill Belichick’s coaching tactics questioned

On being asked why he had taken a while to give Zappe a nod over Jones, Belichick explained, “We made the decision when I thought it was the right time to make it.” He highlighted Zappe’s earlier preseason play, despite its underwhelming nature. Zappe’s preseason performance included one touchdown pass in three appearances with a completion rate of 58.8% behind a makeshift offensive line.

On Sunday, the sophomore quarterback secured his second win in four starts, throwing two touchdown passes in a 26-23 victory over the Denver Broncos. Despite the Patriots being out of playoff contention, they hindered the Broncos’ pursuit of the AFC West title. This performance led fans to draw comparisons to the legendary Tom Brady, speculating about a potential successor.

His recent Brady-like performance has led NFL fans and analysts alike to question the Patriots’ coaching decisions and accuse his delay in playing Zappe of being an important setback for the team’s overall performance. Ben Volin, senior NFL writer for the Boston Globe, recently voiced the same concerns on Platform X, stating, “It’s pretty ridiculous that Zappe didn’t get his first start of the season until the 12th game. The Patriots stuck with Mac Jones way too long and ruined their season.”

After being cut at the end of training camp, Zappe had a modest stint in relief appearances for Jones, going 19-for-48 (48.7%) with two interceptions. Belichick justified the delayed start for Zappe by emphasizing the opportunity given to Mac Jones to progress within the offense, acknowledging the team’s limited production. Ultimately, Belichick felt Zappe deserved a chance, leading to his eventual start.

Mac Jones’ dwindling performance

In 2023, Jones recorded 2,120 yards and 10 touchdowns in 11 starts but faced challenges with 12 interceptions, including a pick-six. His passing yards varied, with only two games exceeding 250 yards, and five games saw him finish with less than 200 passing yards. PFF notes that he leads the league in turnover-worthy plays and has the worst passer rating under pressure.

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While the Patriots’ receiving unit has not stood out, Jones’ ball protection struggles have been harmful. Following consecutive low-scoring games, Coach Bill Belichick gave Bailey Zappe an opportunity. With the prospect of a change of scenery for Jones, especially if the Patriots select a quarterback in the first round, tough decisions might be necessary for progress. The rest of the season will provide clarity on the Patriots’ quarterback situation.

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