The Patriots are no stranger to losses so far this season.
But Sunday’s 38-3 setback in Dallas was on another level with the loss marking the biggest blowout of Bill Belichick’s legendary coaching career.
The Patriots were so uncompetitive that Belichick pulled starting quarterback Mac Jones and replaced him with backup Bailey Zappe in the third quarter.
“No sense in leaving him in the game,” Belichick said of removing Jones, according to the Boston Herald.
The veteran coach followed up on his blanket response by assuring that Jones would remain the starting quarterback in Week 5 at home against the Saints.
“Everything gets highlighted by one or two plays, one way or another. In general, I think he makes pretty good decisions,” Belichick said, according to Fox Sports.
“He sees things well, but obviously, as a team, we can’t win turning the ball over three times in a game, two for touchdowns. We’ve got to do a better job of that. That’s everybody’s responsibility. The quarterback’s part of it, so is everybody else.”
Jones failed to produce a touchdown drive in six possessions before being yanked with New England trailing, 31-3, and less than four minutes remaining in the quarter.
The third-year quarterback tossed two interceptions on the day, one of which resulted in a pick-six. The quarterback was also strip-sacked for a fumble that Dallas returned for a score.
Jones completed 12-of-21 passes for 150 yards and two interceptions.
Zappe, however, didn’t see much success on the field either.
He finished just 4-of-9 for 57 yards and was unable to generate a scoring drive the rest of the game, although he did not commit any turnovers.
“Bailey works hard. He’s in here early, stays late. He spends a lot of time looking at film, studying what we do, what our opponents do, and he prepares very well,” Belichick said.
The backup quarterback job had been up in the air between Zappe and recently signed Will Grier, who the Cowboys released this offseason.
Grier, who spent two years as backup quarterback to Dak Prescott, was signed by the Patriots after a whirlwind offseason.
He was inactive for Sunday’s game.