The New England Patriots brought back their A+ red Pat Patriot throwback uniforms in Week 5. Somehow, this was not the thing Patriots fans were most excited by Sunday.
Instead the source of their joy was Bailey Zappe, the rookie fourth round draft pick who entered the 2022 season as the team’s third-string quarterback. The Western Kentucky record-setter — he threw for 5,967 yards last season, more than anyone in FBS history — made his first NFL start following injuries to Mac Jones and Brian Hoyer. It went about as well as anyone could have hoped.
After an early interception that was 95 percent wide receiver Nelson Agholor’s fault, Zappe found his rhythm against a Detroit Lions secondary so depleted by injury it had been reduced to playing a rookie cornerback at safety. The rookie quarterback took full advantage en route to a 17-21, 188 yard, one touchdown performance in a 29-0 blowout win.
Take a bow @jkbmyrs5!
📺: #DETvsNE on @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/KUbcndB8I6
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 9, 2022
This, of course, led to immediate comparisons to another lightly-regarded Bill Belichick draft pick who was thrust into the starting lineup for the Patriots and then shined. And thus came the Bailey Zappe heart-eye emojis and side-eye “jokes” making allusions between Zappe and Tom Brady.
🎶🎵 START ZAPPE 🎵🎶
— Brendan Glasheen (@BrendanGlasheen) October 9, 2022
Are we all thinking the same thing here? Do I need to calm down?
— TommyFreezePops (@yaboiTCfresh) October 9, 2022
Great day for third-string quarterbacks ig
— Arif Hasan, but spooky 👻 (@ArifHasanNFL) October 9, 2022
Zappeness 🙌
— Julian Edelman (@Edelman11) October 9, 2022
The Bailey Zappe Era? #Patriots
— Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) October 9, 2022
Last week, Zappe was just trying to survive.
This week, the kid is thriving.
16-of-19 for a touchdown and an INT that he didn't deserve. Give Zappe and this coaching staff a TON of credit for what they're doing today, even if it is against a bad defense.
— Khari Thompson (@kdthompson5) October 9, 2022
This feels like the best fever dream ever. Zappe looking electric today
— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) October 9, 2022
ZAPPE HOUR IN FULL EFFECT⏰💥 pic.twitter.com/kb0vpSZRgN
— NBC Sports Boston's Patriots Coverage (@NBCSPatriots) October 9, 2022
It’s Zappening! pic.twitter.com/GQsv9yAx2D
— Pats Pulpit (@patspulpit) October 9, 2022
Look. I'm just going to put the statistics on Twitter. Do NOT yell at me, OK? Do NOT do it. I have NOTHING to do with the stats!
Mac Jones, 2022: 2 TDs, 5 INTs
Bailey Zappe, 2022: 2 TDs, 1 INTDO NOT YELL AT ME ABOUT THE STATS. STRICT ORDERS.
— Michael Hurley (@michaelFhurley) October 9, 2022
Matt Patricia and Joe Judge have taken a lot of bullets the last few months. You gotta give them credit for having Patriots rookie QB Bailey Zappe ready to go the last two weeks.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) October 9, 2022
ZAPPE IS THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE!!!!
— Sloppy 6’5” (@ColeyMick) October 9, 2022
ZAPPE IS QB1 pic.twitter.com/n1zeY6pQg0
— Kendrick Bourne’s burner (1-3) (@Bqd205) October 9, 2022
Bailey Zappe and Mac Jones pic.twitter.com/1KCDnFcMms
— Devine Sports Gospel (@DevineGospel) October 9, 2022
Zappe ⏰ pic.twitter.com/GRPjUD4W36
— Thomas Carrieri (@Thomas_Carrieri) October 9, 2022
