Bill Belichick generated the beginnings of a Patriots quarterback controversy when he benched starter Mac Jones for rookie Bailey Zappe early in the second quarter of Monday night’s game against the Bears. The decision proved to be in vain as New England dropped a 33–14 clunker at home, but the question of which signal-caller will lead from behind center moving forward looms large.
After the loss, which dropped the Patriots to 3–4 on the year, Belichick maintained that the switch to Zappe was not based on Jones’s health or poor performance through the first few drives. Instead, he suggested that the plan was always to play both quarterbacks in the game.
Regardless of the pre-arranged plan, Jones admitted that he didn’t play well enough with the opportunity he was given.
