Will the Giants determine which quarterback starts for the Patriots?

Will the Giants determine which quarterback starts for the Patriots? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Which young players may provide some hope for the future? Which veteran leaders are still showing some week-to-week resiliency during a lost season? And, of course, what exactly is going on at quarterback?

The why and how of the winning and losing of games isn’t exactly at the top of mind for Patriots followers at this point. It’s about salvaging some dignity, building something positive for 2024, and figuring out what kind of mettle exists in certain pockets of the roster.

We’ll touch on all of that — and, yes, the quarterbacks — in this week’s Storylines to Watch…

1. Who gets the start… and why?

Bill Belichick may have really liked to see Bailey Zappe win the starting quarterback gig in practice this week. He may believe as strongly as anyone that his team could use a change behind center. But Belichick also believes strongly — and has for many years — that playing time needs to be earned in practice. And if Zappe hasn’t been able to wrestle the job away from Mac Jones, then Jones could very well be the choice on Sunday, even after getting benched for the two-minute drill in Frankfurt prior to New England’s bye week.

As of this writing (Friday afternoon), a set-in-stone choice at starter has not been announced. Belichick didn’t hint at anything one way or the other during his final press conference of the week. But the team the Patriots will play this weekend may help determine Belichick’s choice.

The Giants are owners of the second-highest blitz rate in the NFL under defensive coordinator Wink Martindale (40.1 percent, per Pro Football Reference). And Jones, as the more experienced pre-snap signal-caller, should have an edge on Zappe in identifying pressures as the two share practice reps this week.

2. Does player input matter when it comes to Belichick’s call at quarterback?

Under most circumstances, the head coach of a football team might be…

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Author : NBC Sports Boston

Publish date : 2023-11-25 00:24:10

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