One thing that Patriots current starting quarterback Bailey Zappe certainly doesn’t lack is confidence.
Patriots running back Ezekiel Elliott praised the QB for that quality after Thursday night’s 21-18 win over the Steelers in which Zappe threw three first-half touchdowns.
“Zap was balling tonight,” Elliott said. “He commands our attention in that huddle. He was out there making the checks, making the points; just has so much confidence and the offense definitely can feel that.”
Amazon Prime reporter Kaylee Hartung passed along an anecdote during Thursday’s broadcast that illustrated it.
“Zappe said it was a wake-up call when he got cut by the Patriots in camp,” Hartung said, as transcribed by NBC 10 Rhode Island reporter Nicole Menner. “And yet even as he signed with their practice squad, the very next day he told (college offensive coordinator Zach) Kittley, ‘Trust me. I’ve got this. Eventually, I’ll be the starter.'”
He was right. Mac Jones was benched in four games for Zappe before it became official in Week 13. Zappe and the Patriots were shut out by the Chargers last week, but his performance in the first half of Thursday’s game was enough to lead his team to victory. It was his finest performance of the season and should leave no doubt who will be the Patriots’ starter Week 15 against the Chiefs.
Ultimately, Zappe completed 19-of-28 passes for 240 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Over 80% of his production came in the first half.
So, where does Zappe’s confidence come from?
“It comes from those guys,” Zappe said of his teammates. “They help me out a lot. They deserve today. So to be able to have this moment, have it with these guys, to be able to go out there and have a game that we had was awesome. And I think as far as confidence, that just comes from preparation, what you do in the week before, and also having confidence in these guys, that these guys go and make plays like JuJu (Smith-Schuster). I mean, giving those guys a chance, that also gives you confidence when you see him go make a play. Then you’re like ‘alright, I’m gonna do it again.’ And that just continues to build up.”
Zappe is now 3-1 as a starter with the Patriots, dating back to his 2022 rookie season. He struggled throughout training camp and the preseason, leading to his release. The Patriots will be looking for a starting quarterback for the 2024 season. If Zappe can keep producing, then perhaps he could still be in the mix for that role moving forward.