After a hard fought game in Green Bay last week, the Patriots now head into a week of uncertainty at the quarterback position. With the most likely starter being Bailey Zappe for the week 5 showdown against the Detroit Lions, Hoyer and potentially even Mac Jones could play.
Last Sunday In Green Day
Zappe was as perfect as one could be at managing the game on Sunday. For never taking an NFL snap before Zappe was impressive after he got comfortable. He went 10-15 for 99 yards and a touchdown. He finished with a quarterback rating of 107 as well which isn’t too shabby. After entering the game when Brian Hoyer was knocked out of the game with a head injury. Zappe’s first four possessions were not great to say the least. Three punts and then a fumble on third down was how Zappe’s first half went but all was saved by Jack Jones’s pick six to end the half.
Zappe then threw his first touchdown pass to Devante Parker midway through the third quarter. Parker was wide open on a deep drag route after Zappe put just enough touch underneath the ball.
Even though Zappe did nothing to cost the Patriots the game it showed that this team is good enough when they compete to keep up with anyone. It’s tough for any team to go into Lambeau and play against Aaron Rodgers, especially a team on their third string quarterback who has never played. Which now begs the question, Who should start at quarterback this week against Detroit.
Who Will Start?
As we know Mac Jones is doubtful at best with his high ankle sprain. Although he made claims to his teammates that he would play against the Packers, he was far from being active let alone playing in the game.
With Hoyer’s situation we now can see how he may not be ready to go this week as well. Following the Tua saga over the past two weeks I now think that the NFL and all of the 32 teams medical staffs are going to be weary when it comes to players having head injuries playing the next week. Surely no one can predict the future but I think Hoyer’s status for this game will be up in the air.
Now with Zappe, as the only remaining healthy body, it is a safe assumption that he is the one in line to start against the Lions. Now with people praising him and his performance against the Packers people should not be so fast to jump the gun. He, after three quarters of a game, has shown that he can be a decent quarterback, but that is too small of a sample size.
This week as well he would be facing the worst defense in the NFL by far so his number could be skewed if he performs well. Understanding how hard it is to win in the NFL is one thing but claiming him to be better than Mac Jones, which a lot of Patriots fans have been claiming here in Boston over the past few days may be a stretch.
Regardless, everyone would love to see Zappe perform well as it would mean the Patriots always will have a chance to win. The Patriots should give Zappe the chance to play over Hoyer because I believe he gives them a better chance to win. When he is compared to Mac Jones though, he has not done enough to take away the starting job from him, even with Mac’s struggles.