It’s Zappe time, New England! Rookie QB Bailey Zappe and the New England Patriots have won again as they have routed the Cleveland Browns 38-15 in their own backyard and earned Bill Belichick his 324th all-time win.
There is a QB controversy brewing in New England and it’s all down to the play of the 4th round pick out of Western Kentucky University, Bailey Zappe. The rookie quarterback has taken the New England offense by storm as he has not only played extremely well and looked composed beyond his years, but has also given the Patriots’ season a new life.
I thought the Patriots were well and truly out of playoff contention after Mac Jones went down with a high-ankle sprain. How were the Patriots going to be able to overcome their bad 1-2 start along with dates with the Green Bay Packers, the Detroit Lion, the Cleveland Browns, and the Chicago Bears and stay in the playoff race?
Well, the answer to those questions were, unbenounced to any of us, sitting on the Patriots bench. Bailey Zappe has overcome all the adversity and negativity that has surrounded the Patriots organization this year to lead the Pats to two straight wins against difficult opponents. And, what makes these last two wins even better is that they were blowouts.
Even though the Browns kept the Patriots offense limited to only 10 points in the first half, Zappe and the run game exploded on an injury-hampered Browns defense as the Pats outscored the Browns 28-9 in the final 30 minutes.
Running back Rhamondre Stevenson had another great game as the starting RB as he rushed 19 times for 76 yards and 2 TDs, with his first touchdown blowing past the Browns on a 3 and 10 for a 40+ yard TD.
I know Damien Harris and him form a great tandem, but Stevenson has the potential to be a starting running back on his own right. He has grown from the young, inexperienced back that fumbled to lose the game against the Dolphins in Week 1 of the 2020 season to now being more than capable of rushing through some of the best defensive lineman and linebackers in the league.
He’s due for a new contract and I hope the Patriots pay him as he’s one of the most exciting players this offense has produced in a while.
Speaking of exciting, Bailey Zappe is developing into an NFL-caliber QB before our very eyes. Finishing the day having thrown 24/34 (71%), 309 yards, and 2 TDs, Zappe played as well and as calmly as you’d see from star QBs like Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers, and Josh Allen.
Obviously, I’m not saying that Zappe is as good as these quarterbacks, but I am saying that he’s playing just as well as they are. Mac Jones better be careful when he returns as, if he doesn’t improve his game, he’s going to be replaced by the late round pick.
Hmm, isn’t there another famous story of an injured 1st round pick quarterback being replaced by a late round pick in New England history? What was that late round pick’s name?
Anway, this game was a huge milestone in the career of Bill Belichick. This win now puts his career tally (including both the regular season and playoffs) at 324, which ties legendary Bears head coach George Hallis’ 324 wins for 2nd all time in NFL history. Only the great Don Shula, who accumulated 347 wins with the old Baltimore Colts (1963-69) and the Miami Dolphins (1970-95), still stands ahead of Belichick on the list.
If one didn’t think that Belichick’s 6 Super Bowl wins made him the greatest coach of all-time, his climb on the all-time wins list should.
As for the Patriots and the Browns, this game may prove to be vital in each other’s, respective, seasons. The Patriots are now 3-3 and firmly alive in the AFC playoff chase with some of the results around the AFC going their way today, while the Browns, who are now 2-4, will find it difficult to overcome a two-game disadvantage.
But, of course, the Browns infamous hero, Deshaun Watson, is only a few weeks away from being reinstated into the NFL.
Maybe he can redeem this season for Cleveland…that is if he survives this latest lawsuit.
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