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Top five reasons Patriots’ fans should be thankful this year

By Jon Cirrinone

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - NOVEMBER 20: Kyle Dugger #23 of the New England Patriots breaks up a pass intended for Ty Johnson #25 of the New York Jets during the fourth quarter at Gillette Stadium on November 20, 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - NOVEMBER 20: Kyle Dugger #23 of the New England Patriots breaks up a pass intended for Ty Johnson #25 of the New York Jets during the fourth quarter at Gillette Stadium on November 20, 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /
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What Patriots fans should be thankful for: #4

Bailey Zappe as a backup quarterback

Some Patriots fans may have gotten ahead of themselves when enshrining the rookie quarterback out of Western Kentucky. The kid isn’t quite Canton-bound quite yet, but he did come in and play inspiring football in leading the Pats to two much-needed wins against the Lions and Browns. There was a brief quarterback controversy as a result and during the Week 7 game against the Bears, fans at Gillette Stadium even chanted for Zappe to relieve Mac. He did, by the way, and the inspiring football he was playing died off after only a few drives.

Just like that, Zappe Fever had come and gone and Mac Jones was back under center. But still, I’m thankful. Bailey Zappe delivered when the Patriots needed him and led the team to two victories, while also almost upsetting Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers for a third. But I’m thankful for Zappe in a different way: it sure is nice to know we have a viable backup quarterback.

You can never have too many quarterbacks in this league, and having a backup quarterback that you trust to win games in a pinch is a luxury. Not every team has that, and we were fortunate enough to find him in the fourth round. Maybe he becomes a starter in this league. Maybe that’s not with New England. But for now, should Mac go down again, it’s nice to not absolutely dread our chances of victory. Zappe is only 23 years old and has already shown more promise than several quarterbacks drafted ahead of him.

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