It’s 2022, and it looks like Bill Belichick has found himself managing a quarterback controversy again. The more things change, the more … oh, you know the rest.
Monday night saw Mac Jones return against the Bears (+8.5) after spraining his ankle. Unfortunately for Jones (on an individual level), his backup, Bailey Zappe, happened to play well in his absence. And when Jones struggled early on — especially in a funny sequence with Jaquan Brisker — as Chicago amassed a 10-0 lead, Belichick revealed the cards in his hand and put Zappe in around the midway point of the third quarter.
It paid off almost immediately, with the young Zappe launching a dart and giving Jakobi Meyers a chance to make a play on a touchdown:
BAILEY ZAPPE THROWS A TOUCHDOWN PASS TO JAKOBI MEYERS!! pic.twitter.com/qoDqIrfFLg
— Brian Y (@byysports) October 25, 2022
Oh, my goodness. Talk about giving your team a spark.
If that weren’t enough, the Zappe-led Patriots would score another touchdown on back-to-back possessions.
10+ points in each of his last five games now.
Rhamondre Stevenson is on a ROLL. @dreeday32 pic.twitter.com/WHQTvaLbjT
— NFL Fantasy Football (@NFLFantasy) October 25, 2022
For what it’s worth, Jones was being a good teammate.
Love seeing this between Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe after Zappe’s TD pic.twitter.com/WIhHyRtpJt
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) October 25, 2022
After watching how the Patriots responded once Zappe came into a night game, I’m not sure if Belichick has a quarterback controversy on his hands. I suppose we’ll see as this game (and the rest of the season) wear on.
NFL fans had lots of jokes about "deja vu" they were experiencing with Jones and Zappe's QB controversy
When Bailey Zappe got drafted on the Saturday of Draft Weekend in Vegas, Mac Jones was just two months removed from doing The Griddy in his Pro Bowl appearance down the Strip.
Not a soul saw this as possible.
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) October 25, 2022
Bailey Zappe to Mac Jones pic.twitter.com/rcje14fDjg
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 25, 2022
Mac Jones vs Bailey Zappe pic.twitter.com/jqOLUDr6mj
— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) October 25, 2022
Mac Jones every time Bailey Zappe throws a pass pic.twitter.com/dNYUI8sjn6
— #RingerNFL (@ringernfl) October 25, 2022
Bailey Zappe & Mac Jones in a few years pic.twitter.com/7Z8aQezxOv
— J&D Productions (@JDProdNFL) October 25, 2022
Mac Jones watching Bailey Zappe throw a TD to a wide open receiver pic.twitter.com/woHp66dM6j
— FantasyPros (@FantasyPros) October 25, 2022
Bailey Zappe to Mac Jones on the sideline pic.twitter.com/gMnrzgcpef
— Yahoo Fantasy Sports (@YahooFantasy) October 25, 2022
Bailey Zappe and Mac Jones pic.twitter.com/uNaMAiqlbF
— JA17 4 MVP (@devon_crowley) October 25, 2022
Bailey Zappe to Mac Jones pic.twitter.com/CgV9g8ugEt
— Blake Garman (@FrostedBlakes34) October 25, 2022
Mac Jones looking at Bailey Zappe after every touchdown drive pic.twitter.com/ERs17ZRgqK
— Kendall (@_kendallrjones_) October 25, 2022
