The New England Patriots are riding high on a two game win streak as they return home to host the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football. The team is back at .500 after big wins over the Lions and Browns. But the performance from Bailey Zappe has some wondering if there is a quarterback controversy brewing in Foxboro.
PATRIOTS BEST STRETCH OF THE SEASON
When looking at the Patriots schedule before the season, this seemed like the best possible stretch for New England. The Lions, Browns and Bears all came into the season with very little hype and a lot of questions surrounding them. So far, the Patriots rose to the challenge against Detroit and Cleveland. Can they continue rising to that challenge against the Bears?
PATRIOTS HAVE THE BETTER RECORD
This is New England’s third game this year against an NFC North opponent, but only the second time this season the Patriots will have the better record going into the game. They have had tied records against the Dolphins, Ravens and Browns, but previously, they had only had a better record than the Lions. This game is setting itself up to be the opposite of that game. While Detroit had the number one scoring offense going into that game, Chicago has the number 31 scoring offense. Only Denver has scored fewer points than Chicago this season. It’s not expected to be a tough test for the Patriots defense.
WHO WILL START AT QB?
The big question surrounding the Patriots right now is “who will start at quarterback?” Mac Jones took the first team reps at practice on Thursday. It’s the first time he’s been able to do that since suffering a high ankle sprain against the Ravens in week three.
Multiple media outlets have reported that if Jones is healthy, he will start Monday. That may surprise some people given how successful Bailey Zappe has been the past three weeks, but Monday’s game is four weeks and one day since Jones’ injury. The initial report was he would miss four to six weeks.
SHOULD THERE BE A QB CONTROVERSY?
It appears there is a QB controversy in New England, but should there be? Mac Jones won the job in training camp while Zappe was still third string behind Brian Hoyer. Mac Jones struggled in his three outings this year, while Zappe looked solid in relief at Green Bay and very good in his two starts. But, Jones made his starts against a Dolphins team that looks good while fully healthy, a Steelers defense that was coming off a five sack performance against the reigning AFC Champions, and a Ravens squad that’s defense has blown some big leads but also held the Jets and Bengals to 17 points or fewer. Zappe, meanwhile, has started against the Lions and Browns, two of the worst franchises of my lifetime and, arguably, two of the worst teams this season.
I see a lot of Patriots fans making the Tom Brady comparison for Bailey Zappe, but I think I’m seeing someone like Scott Mitchell or Matt Cassel. Both of those guys played great in relief of injured starters, got big contracts from other teams and flamed out fast. I’m not arguing Mac Jones is, or will ever be, at the levels of Dan Marino or Tom Brady were, but it’s more likely Zappe is a flash in the pan than the next great starter. If Mac Jones is ready, I would start Mac.
PREDICTIONS
The Patriots need another win. A three game win streak could build some momentum as the Patriots have a tough stretch coming up. They’ve got the very surprising Jets twice, the NFC North leading Vikings, and the Bills over the next five games with the Colts thrown in there, as well. And I think they are going to get it. I still don’t understand the appeal of Justin Fields. The Bears are currently third in their division, but look like they should be the worst team in the North. The Patriots are hot when they need to be and it could help them during the difficult stretch coming up.
Patriots win 28-17
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