Was Bailey Zappe an improvement at QB?

Patriots-Chargers Report Card: Was Bailey Zappe an improvement at QB? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

You know the drill by now. The Patriots defense holds down the fort with a strong performance, but the offense fails to hold up its end of the bargain. Patriots lose by one possession. Rinse, wash, repeat.

But Sunday’s 6-0 defeat to the Chargers — the Patriots’ third consecutive loss, and the first time since 1938 that a team has lost three straight while allowing 10 points or fewer in each contest — is still worth dissecting.

Did the offensive operation look better under Bailey Zappe, who made his first start of 2023 after taking over for Mac Jones? And who were the bright spots on a defense that’s allowed just one touchdown since Week 9?

Let’s get to our Week 13 grades…

Quarterback: C-

Were there signs of improvement compared to what the Patriots had shown at this position in recent weeks? Some. Especially in the second half. It still wasn’t what you would call “good.”

The game began ominously for Bailey Zappe, who threw late to a slant on his first pass of the game. He missed an open Hunter Henry during a scramble-drill situation. His offense picked up a delay of game penalty, and he threw wide to Ezekiel Elliott on a swing pass that should’ve gone for big yardage. That all came in the first half.

There were some signs of life in the first 30 minutes. Zappe scrambled twice for good gains, and he changed one play at the line to hit the Chargers on a nine-yard run. Then in the second half he seemingly got into a rhythm.

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He hit a deep over route to DeVante Parker for 21 yards and threw twice accurately down the field to Parker on fades that were not completed. A back-shoulder throw to Parker also went for an explosive gain on a strong throw from Zappe in the conditions. Zappe made a nice throw on the move to Hunter Henry on third down as…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/patriots-chargers-report-card-bailey-175246981.html

Author : NBC Sports Boston

Publish date : 2023-12-04 17:52:46

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