FOXBORO — The Patriots’ quarterback controversy seemingly will proceed even after Bailey Zappe changed Mac Jones because the starter in Week 13.
The Patriots will play 4 days after they had been shut out by the Chargers 6-0 at Gillette Stadium, so head coach Bill Belichick was requested if Zappe will begin Thursday evening in opposition to the Steelers.
“Yeah, we just finished the game,” Belichick mentioned Sunday afternoon.
This is now the third straight sport that Belichick wouldn’t decide to a starter after a loss. After earlier losses earlier within the season, Belichick named Jones because the Patriots’ starter.
“Yeah, well we just finished the game,” Belichick repeated. “So, we haven’t even started on Pittsburgh yet.”
Zappe went simply 13-of-25 for 141 yards and took 5 sacks in Sunday’s shutout loss. He averted any of the interceptions which have plagued him and Jones to this point this season, however it wasn’t sufficient to get the Patriots contained in the purple zone.
“Yeah, biggest thing is for the quarterback position is not throw interceptions. We were able to do that today, but we weren’t able to score points,” Zappe mentioned. “We’ve got to score points, and that starts with me, and that starts with, like I said, just making smarter decisions and just growing in the things that we did good today and learning from the things that we didn’t do good. It’s a short week, but we’ll get after it tomorrow and be ready for Thursday.”
In Zappe’s closing probability to mount a game-winning drive, he threw three straight incompletions for a turnover on downs late within the fourth quarter. It was the second time the Patriots have been shut out this season at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots have now misplaced three straight video games whereas permitting 10 or fewer factors.
“Some good things and some bad things,” Zappe mentioned to sum up Sunday’s efficiency. “We had a chance there at the end. Defense played great. Offense, it starts with me. I’ve got to make plays towards the end. I’ve got to throw better balls. I’ve got to make the balls catchable, especially in conditions like today — wet ball, wet hands. I’ve got to throw the ball better. It starts with me on the offensive side in getting things going.”
Belichick was requested after the sport what led to his determination to lastly play Zappe and bench Jones.
“I thought he deserved it,” Belichick responded.
The group went 2-9 with Jones as their starter and benched him in 4 separate video games earlier than Zappe lastly took over on Sunday. Belichick defined why the group didn’t change Jones because the starter earlier.
“Because we gave Mac [Jones] the opportunity to work through his progression with the offense,” Belichick mentioned. “Obviously we hadn’t had a lot of production. I thought Bailey deserved a chance to play, so he played today.”
It appears doubtless that Zappe will begin once more on Thursday in opposition to the Steelers. The Patriots’ different choices can be Jones, rookie Malik Cunningham, who was energetic however didn’t play Sunday, or practice-squad third-stringer Will Grier.
Source: www.bostonherald.com