Just when we all thought Zappe-Mania was over, New England Patriots backup quarterback Bailey Zappe was back on the field taking regular season snaps from Mac Jones, who was benched after having arguably the worst NFL game of his career.
It felt like deja vu watching the Patriots’ quarterback carousel start up once again after Jones gave up two interceptions and a fumble—a total of three turnovers with two being returned for touchdowns.
Buy Patriots TicketsWhen asked about being benched, Jones took ownership, as he always does, and directed further questions on the incident to coach Bill Belichick.
“I think just the way the game went, I mean it is what it is,” Jones said on Monday, when appearing on Jones and Mego. “For me, obviously, I didn’t play well in that game. So I got to do things better in practice. That’s where it kind of starts.”
Mac Jones speaks on getting benched by Coach Belichick pic.twitter.com/CvGpvOUkHS
— Jones & Mego with Arcand (@JonesandMego) October 2, 2023
Jones was also honest on the current state of the team as a whole. They are sitting at 1-3 with the hardest schedule in the NFL.
The team is going to need to dig deep to get out of the current hole they’ve managed to dig for themselves, but it all starts under center with the quarterback.
“You can’t play like that and feel good about it, but I do feel like we have a really good team,” said Jones. “I have a great respect for the guys in the locker room, and I just have to do a better job of playing good football. For me, that just starts with staying positive and learning what I can do better. I know I’m going to fight. I know they’re going to fight, and that’s all we can ask for.”
It won’t be a matter of waiting to see how much fight the Patriots have left with a tough New Orleans Saints team coming to town for a Week 5 visit on Sunday.