The New England Patriots brought back their A+ red Pat Patriot throwback uniforms in Week 5. Somehow, this was not the thing Patriots fans were most excited by Sunday.
Instead the source of their joy was Bailey Zappe, the rookie fourth round draft pick who entered the 2022 season as the team’s third-string quarterback. The Western Kentucky record-setter — he threw for 5,967 yards last season, more than anyone in FBS history — made his first NFL start following injuries to Mac Jones and Brian Hoyer. It went about as well as anyone could have hoped.
After an early interception that was 95 percent wide receiver Nelson Agholor’s fault, Zappe found his rhythm against a Detroit Lions secondary so depleted by injury it had been reduced to playing a rookie cornerback at safety. The rookie quarterback took full advantage en route to a 17-21, 188 yard, one touchdown performance in a 29-0 blowout win.
Take a bow @jkbmyrs5!
đź“ş: #DETvsNE on @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/KUbcndB8I6
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 9, 2022
This, of course, led to immediate comparisons to another lightly-regarded Bill Belichick draft pick who was thrust into the starting lineup for the Patriots and then shined. And thus came the Bailey Zappe heart-eye emojis and side-eye “jokes” making allusions between Zappe and Tom Brady.