Nov 26, 2023, 3:50 PM ET
The quarterback was left on the sidelines for the second half of the game against the Giants, Bailey Zappe replaced him
EAST RUTHERFORD — New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones started Sunday’s road game against the New York Giants — coming off a game in which he was benched following a late interception in the fourth quarter. fourth — however, head coach Bill Belichick sent backup Bailey Zappe onto the court at the start of the second half.
Mac Jones threw two interceptions in the first half and the Patriots were down 0-7 when Belichick made the switch. Mac Jones completed 12 of 21 passes for 89 yards in the first half and the Giants ended up turning his second interception into the only touchdown of the first half.
Belichick had not told Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe of his plans for who would start the game all week before this game. His message was that everyone, at all positions, needed to be ready.
Mac Jones threw two interceptions in the first half before being benched. AP Photo
Sources said practice reps during the week had been split about 50-50 between Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe. The complexity in the Giants’ blitzing schemes under defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, and Mac Jones’ ability to deal with them, led some in the locker room to believe that Mac Jones had the upper hand during the week.
The Patriots entered Sunday’s game with a 2-8 record, the worst record in the AFC, and an inconsistent level at quarterback has been just one of the many problems that have contributed to them averaging just 14.1 points per game.
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Mac Jones had been pulled from three games this season, starting with blowout losses to the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints in Weeks 4 and 5 of the season.
Then, in a Week 10 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Frankfurt, Germany, with the Patriots chasing a touchdown to take the lead with 4:25 left in the fourth quarter, Mac Jones threw a bad pass to the tight end Mike Gesicki in the end zone for an interception.
Belichick benched him and gave way to Bailey Zappe with the Patriots trailing 10-6 and a chance to mount a comeback touchdown drive when they got the ball back with 1:52 left at their own 14-yard line. After gaining 26 yards on the first seven plays of the drive, Bailey Zappe threw an interception over the middle of the field to end their hopes.
Mac Jones has completed 212 of 324 passes for 2,031 yards with 10 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He has been captured 21 times.
Until this game, Bailey Zappe had 10 completions in 25 attempts for 104 with no touchdowns and one interception.
2023-11-26 20:50:00
#Patriots #bench #quarterback #Mac #Jones
