Patriots lose to Packers in OT after third-string QB Bailey Zappe makes unexpected debut

The Patriots put up a good fight, despite losing to the Packers in overtime. They had to go up against Aaron Rodgers at Lambeau—with their third string quarterback.

Not much was expected of Bailey Zappe when he was drafted by the Patriots in April. In fact some questioned if the team even needed another quarterback. Five months later, the fourth-rounder out of Western Kentucky is the only healthy quarterback on the team.

Zappe took over yesterday after Brian Hoyer left the game in the first quarter with a head injury. And after a shaky start, Zappe led the Pats on two touchdown drives in the second half and actually became the first rookie quarterback to score a touchdown this season.

The 23-year-old says it was his teammates who helped to keep him calm in the moment.

“It’s a dream come true to play in an NFL game,” said Bailey Zappe. “It’s obviously not the outcome we wanted at all. I first want to give credit to my teammates. They kept me calm, getting the nerves out of me. Everybody played well tonight. O line played well, we ran the ball well, it really just comes down to me, I’ve got to make more plays.”

After the game, Bill Belichick said it game down to Rodgers being too good and executing enough plays to win.

“I thought Bailey really competed well, a lot of guys compete well, we just obviously came up a little bit short,” said Belichick. “You know Rodgers was just too good.”

So here’s where the Patriots stand with their quarterbacks:

-Mac Jones of course couldn’t play this week because of a high ankle sprain.

-Brian Hoyer was knocked out with a head injury and it’s unclear if he’ll have to enter the NFL concussion protocol.

-Even the team’s emergency quarterback, wide receiver Jakobi Meyers is hurt and missed yesterday game.

The Patriots find themselves in an unusual position--last in the AFC East. The last time they finished at the bottom of their division was in 2000—when Drew Bledsoe was the quarterback and Zappe was one year old. The Patriots obviously still have plenty of time to turn things around.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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