GREEN BAY, Wis. — As Brian Hoyer walked off the field Sunday, head down and carrying his team’s best hopes of an upset into the locker room, the Patriots turned to a fourth-round rookie.
Bailey Zappe, their last remaining quarterback, had no choice but to replace Hoyer and take the field against Aaron Rodgers in his NFL debut. Waves of football history and the sounds of 81,441 strong crashed upon him at Lambeau Field. As Zappe navigated his initial nerves and steered into three straight punts and a fumble, another fourth-round rookie gave him a lift.
Trailing 7-3 with less than 30 seconds before halftime, Pats cornerback Jack Jones jumped a careless Rodgers throw at the right sideline. Pick. Next, he won a 40-yard foot race to the end zone. Touchdown.
