'Could've Done Better!' Patriots' QB Takes Blame For Fumbles vs. Titans
New England Patriots backup quarterback Bailey Zappe has not had a stellar preseason. The 6-1, 215-pound Western Kentucky product is entering his second season in the NFL after being taken in the fourth round of last year's draft.
Last season, Zappe played in four games, starting two, and completed almost 71 percent of his passes. He also threw five touchdowns to three interceptions. But one stat from 2022 is glaring, and that's four fumbles, with three lost.
That's almost as bad of a statistic for quarterbacks as interceptions, and that problem seems to have carried over to this preseason. While Zappe went fumble-free in the first two games of this exhibition season, on Friday against the Titans he coughed the ball up three times, with Tennessee recovering one.
Getting into a rhythm in the preseason is understandably difficult with different players in different positions being shuffled in and out of the lineup during a game, but Zappe didn't use that as an excuse on Saturday.
"I mean, it's football; stuff is going to happen," Zappe said after the game. "People are going to be switching in and out. It's my job, and a QB's job is to go out there and play football. Today there was some good, some bad, you know. Definitely could have done better at some of those things. But, you know, it doesn't matter who's really out there. It's just a matter of execution. That directly reflects on us as quarterbacks."
While Zappe might have the QB2 position filled, he knows some of his teammates were battling for roster spots, and how hard that can be.
"It's hard. It's a sad thing to say it, but it's part of the business I guess," Zappe added. "I mean, it sucks to say it that way because, like you said, we've been together for so long. We've built friendships, we've been together every day all day for the last however many months.
"It's really hard to see anybody go. But, you know, I really hope whoever does leave, whoever goes anywhere else, I hope they do the best they can. Hopefully, they succeed. That's what I want for them and everybody."
Zappe clearly didn't have his best stuff in the preseason finale, and that could create a problem for a young quarterback who is trying to build positive momentum entering the regular season.
The good news is that Zappe and the Patriots have two weeks to prepare and improve before their Week 1 matchup at home against the defending NFC champion Eagles.
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