FRANKFURT, Germany — Patriots backup quarterback Bailey Zappe had a golden alternative to overhaul Mac Jones because the Patriots’ beginning quarterback in Sunday’s 10-6 loss and admittedly, flopped.
The Patriots benched Jones after an unpleasant interception contained in the crimson zone Sunday and put Zappe on the sector with the sport on the road in a two-minute drill whereas trailing by 4 factors. Zappe began the drive 3-of-6 for 25 yards earlier than taking a snap on the Patriots’ 40-yard line on first-and-10 with 36 seconds on the clock.
He dropped again, faked a snap, confronted no stress after which tossed the ball to 5-foot-8 rookie vast receiver Demario Douglas with a crowd of three Colts defenders round him. It was intercepted by Colts security Rodney Thomas II to clinch the sport in an inexplicable determination.
There did appear to be confusion on the line of scrimmage. The Colts believed the Patriots had false began. Zappe additionally appeared to imagine there was a penalty.
“Uh, yeah. I mean, can’t say what I want to say,” Zappe mentioned, later clarifying that he can’t discuss referees or officiating to ESPN’s Mike Reiss.
“But there’s just, we were kind of behind on time the way we talk about yards — one yard for every second. So, we were trying to get ahead of the time by taking a shot. We figured the play that we had — fake spike, trying to catch the defense off guard, not get the rush going, that worked. But that’s just me trying to force it and make a play, get us ahead on time. Looking back at it, I’d probably just say, throw it incomplete, move on to the next down, try to see if we could take another shot. But I’m sure we’ll look at it tomorrow or Tuesday, and we’ll learn from it.”
Without seeing a flag on the sector, there was no excuse for Zappe to make the throw he did. Still, when requested later if he believed he’s match to begin at quarterback, he answered, “100%.”
Zappe has relieved Jones thrice this season. He’s 10-of-25 for 104 yards with an interception, and two of his performances got here in rubbish time of blowout losses.
The second-year professional received his two begins as a rookie however couldn’t push Jones for a beginning function this summer time and was so unhealthy in coaching camp and the preseason that he was lower in late August solely to be introduced again onto the apply squad after which the lively roster.
If Zappe begins after the Patriots’ bye, it has extra to do with Jones’ struggles than something Zappe has carried out in his quite a few alternatives over the previous 4 months.
Source: www.bostonherald.com