FOXBORO — The Zappe fever was gentle on Thursday night time at Gillette Stadium.
The Patriots gave backup quarterback Bailey Zappe a surprisingly lengthy look of their preseason opener towards the Houston Texans, trotting out the second-year professional for the whole first half and the primary collection of the third quarter earlier than he gave option to third-stringer Trace McSorley as starter Mac Jones dressed however took the night time off.
New England Patriots quarterback Malik Cunningham dashes towards the top zone for a landing towards the Houston Texans throughout the second half of an NFL preseason sport Thursday at Gillette Stadium. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
The New England Patriots cheerleaders carry out throughout the second quarter of the NFL preseason sport towards the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium on Thursday in Foxboro, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) August 10, 2023
The New England Patriots cheerleaders carry out throughout the second quarter of the NFL preseason sport towards the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium on Thursday in Foxboro, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) August 10, 2023
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick throughout the first quarter of the NFL preseason sport towards the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium on Thursday in Foxboro, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) August 10, 2023
Daniel Ekuale #95 and Anfernee Jennings #33 of the New England Patriots put the stress on C.J. Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans throughout the first quarter of the NFL preseason sport at Gillette Stadium on Thursday in Foxboro, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) August 10, 2023
Tyquan Thornton #11 of the New England Patriots jumps up a makes a reception in entrance of Jalen Pitre #5 of the Houston Texans throughout the first quarter of the NFL preseason sport at Gillette Stadium on Thursday in Foxboro, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) August 10, 2023
Steven Sims #82 of the Houston Texans hauls in a cross in entrance of Shaun Wade #26 of the New England Patriots throughout the first quarter of the NFL preseason sport at Gillette Stadium on Thursday in Foxboro, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) August 10, 2023
The New England Patriots run out onto the sector earlier than the NFL preseason sport towards the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium on Thursday in Foxboro, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) August 10, 2023
Devin Singletary #26 of the Houston Texans misses a catch throughout the first quarter of the NFL preseason sport towards the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Thursday in Foxboro, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) August 10, 2023
Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe seems to be to cross throughout the first quarter of a NFL preseason sport towards the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
Pierre Strong Jr. of the New England Patriots tries to keep away from M.J. Stewart (29) Denzel Perryman (6) and Christian Harris (48) of the Houston Texans on Thursday night time. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
The New England Patriots run out onto the sector earlier than the NFL preseason sport towards the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium on Thursday in Foxboro, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) August 10, 2023
Carl Davis Jr. #98 of the New England Patriots congratulates Daniel Ekuale #95 after his sack on C.J. Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans throughout the first quarter of the NFL preseason sport at Gillette Stadium on Thursday in Foxboro, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) August 10, 2023
Juice Scruggs #70 of the Houston Texans brings down Jalen Mills #2 of the New England Patriots after he intercepted throughout the first quarter of the NFL preseason sport at Gillette Stadium on Thursday in Foxboro, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) August 10, 2023
Josh Uche #55, Deatrich Wise Jr. #91 and Matthew Judon #9 of the New England Patriots all smiles on the sidelines throughout the first quarter of the NFL preseason sport towards the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium on Thursday in Foxboro, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) August 10, 2023
Carl Davis Jr. #98 of the New England Patriots goes down damage throughout the second quarter of the NFL preseason sport towards the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium on Thursday in Foxboro, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) August 10, 2023
Deatrich Wise Jr. #91 and Matthew Judon #9 of the New England Patriots on the sidelines throughout the first quarter of the NFL preseason sport towards the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium on Thursday in Foxboro, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) August 10, 2023
Matthew Judon #9 of the New England Patriots on the sidelines throughout the first quarter of the NFL preseason sport towards the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium on Thursday in Foxboro, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) August 10, 2023
Bailey Zappe #4 of the New England Patriots winds as much as throw throughout the second quarter of the NFL preseason sport towards the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium on Thursday in Foxboro, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) August 10, 2023
Matt Sokol #87 of the New England Patriots goes over Tavierre Thomas #4 of the Houston Texans after his catch throughout the second quarter of the NFL preseason sport at Gillette Stadium on Thursday in Foxboro, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) August 10, 2023
Patriots protection together with Calvin Munson #43, Joshuah Bledsoe #24 and Rodney Randle Jr. #39 take down Mike Boone #22 of the Houston Texans throughout the second quarter of the NFL preseason sport at Gillette Stadium on Thursday in Foxboro, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) August 10, 2023
Tank Dell #13 of the Houston Texans will get a landing after bobbling the ball in entrance of JuJu Smith-Schuster #7 of the New England Patriots throughout the second quarter of the NFL preseason sport at Gillette Stadium on Thursday in Foxboro, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) August 10, 2023
Quarterback Bailey Zappe of the New England Patriots tries to eliminate the ball as Roy Lopez of the Houston Texans strikes in throughout the second quarter of Thursday’s NFL preseason sport at Gillette Stadium. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
Bailey Zappe #4 of the New England Patriots goes down after making an attempt for some additional yardage throughout the second quarter of the NFL preseason sport towards the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium on Thursday in Foxboro, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) August 10, 2023
Mac Jones #10 of the New England Patriots on the bench throughout the second quarter of the NFL preseason sport towards the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium on Thursday in Foxboro, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) August 10, 2023
Daniel Ekuale #95 of the New England Patriots sacks C.J. Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans throughout the first quarter of the NFL preseason sport at Gillette Stadium on Thursday in Foxboro, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) August 10, 2023
Jalen Mills #2 of the New England Patriots after his interception throughout the first quarter of the NFL preseason sport towards the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium on Thursday in Foxboro, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) August 10, 2023
Jalen Mills #2 of the New England Patriots runs the ball in-between Tank Dell #13 and Dalton Schultz #83 of the Houston Texans after intercepting within the first quarter of the NFL preseason sport at Gillette Stadium on Thursday in Foxboro, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) August 10, 2023
Mac Jones #10 of the New England Patriots on the bench throughout the second quarter of the NFL preseason sport towards the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium on Thursday in Foxboro, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) August 10, 2023
Zappe accomplished 10-of-12 passes for 67 yards and was sacked twice behind an offensive line that struggled to provide its quarterbacks time to look downfield within the Patriots’ 20-9 loss.
“We’ll take a look at it,” head coach Bill Belichick mentioned of Zappe’s efficiency. “Didn’t turn the ball over, had some good throws, some tough situations, long yardage, some pressures. We’ll take a look at it.”
McSorley was additionally sacked as he went 1-of-3 for 4 yards in reserve of Zappe. Speedy rookie Malik Cunningham, who took snaps at large receiver earlier within the sport, entered halfway by way of the fourth quarter to provide the Patriots a much-needed jolt together with his arm and legs.
The Louisville product accomplished 3-of-4 passes for 19 yards and carried the ball 5 occasions for 25 yards in his lone offensive collection. He juked Texans linebacker Jake Hansen out of his footwear on a 9-yard carry for the Patriots’ lone landing with 1:54 left within the sport.
This was the Patriots’ first sport since Bill O’Brien returned because the workforce’s offensive coordinator. Without any offensive starters, it was robust to come back to many conclusions in regards to the workforce’s future on offense, however O’Brien has to hope his high offensive line can play a lot better than the workforce’s reserves fared Thursday night time.
“We’re dealing with some injuries on the offensive line, but the guys who were in there got some experience,” Belichick mentioned. “It was tough for the backs, and it was tough for the quarterbacks. We didn’t have a lot of space on the offense for the most part tonight.”
The Patriots’ first rating got here early within the first quarter after transformed security Jalen Mills picked off Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud on the Texans’ 37-yard line and returned the ball 13 yards. The Patriots misplaced one yard on their ensuing drive, and kicker Nick Folk booted by way of a 44-yard area aim.
Trailing 3-0 late within the first half, the Texans put collectively a seven-play, 62-yard go-ahead scoring drive capped off by a 6-yard landing cross from quarterback Davis Mills to rookie large receiver Tank Dell. The Patriots struggled to cowl Dell, who caught 5 passes on eight targets for 65 yards with the landing.
The Texans continued their scoring methods within the third quarter as ex-Patriots tight finish Dalton Keene picked up a 1-yard landing keep on an eight-play, 55-yard drive led by veteran QB Case Keenum. Kicker Jake Bates’ additional level was no good.
Keenum, an skilled starter, proved a tricky take a look at for backup Patriots defenders and tossed a five-year landing cross to large receiver Alex Bachman for a 3rd Texans landing with 9:56 left within the third quarter on a 10-play, 40-yard drive.
Running again Pierre Strong led Patriots working backs with 21 yards on six carries. Wide receiver Tyquan Thornton was the workforce’s high receiver with two catches on two targets for 31 yards. That Thornton, a 2022 second-round decide, was enjoying in any respect Thursday wasn’t a fantastic signal for his standing on the depth chart. Other Patriots high cross catchers dressed however didn’t play towards the Texans.
Cornerback Rodney Randle led Patriots defenders with seven tackles. Defensive deal with Daniel Ekuale had a sack early within the sport, and cornerback Christian Gonzalez compelled a fumble that went out of bounds.
Patriots defensive deal with Carl Davis and guard Kody Russey each left the sport with obvious accidents. Davis went down halfway by way of the second quarter and walked to the pop-up medical tent on the sideline. Russey left the sport early within the third quarter and in addition walked to the medical tent beneath his personal energy.
Best
DE Keion White: The large 6-foot-5, 290-pound rookie churned out a disruptive efficiency in his preseason debut, totaling three tackles and a QB hit. He wasn’t credited with a compelled fumble however made positive working again Dare Ogunbowale couldn’t get well a muffed pitch by annihilating him within the backfield.
WR Tyquan Thornton: Thornton wanted to impress after a gradual begin to coaching camp. His 27-yard catch was one of many Patriots’ high performs.
S Jalen Mills: The veteran defender appeared snug in his return to security whereas intercepting rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud on a goal to large receiver Tank Dell.
QB/WR Malik Cunningham: Cunningham confirmed simply sufficient to be the speak of the city after Thursday night time’s exhilarating drive. Cunning could be a extra thrilling third-string quarterback than McSorley.
Worst
Offensive line: Zappe tried only one downfield cross due partially to an offensive line that allowed two sacks and two QB hits. The unit didn’t function any potential starters, however the Patriots may need to depend on backups as they cope with 4 key accidents on the road.
Running backs: There’s shared blame for the truth that Patriots working backs gained simply 35 yards on 18 carries. The O-line wasn’t opening many holes, however Pierre Strong, Kevin Harris and J.J. Taylor additionally weren’t creating sufficient yards on their very own. It’s time for the Patriots to signal a veteran backup behind Rhamondre Stevenson.
Bhagyashree Soni is a software engineer with soft writing skills. She is a degree holder from the International School of Entrepreneurial Leadership. She has been a state-level badminton champion and chess player. A woman with a forthright attitude enjoys her writing passion as her chosen career. Writing in the context of feminism, social cause and entrepreneurship is her forte.