Patriots 2023 Positional Grades: Quarterback Report Card
As the New England Patriots conclude their rocky 2023 season, which included a poor 4-13 record, the team is in the beginning of a complete rebuild. The Patriots have named Jerod Mayo as their new head coach, the 15th in franchise history. This move marks a watershed moment for the team, indicating a new direction for the future.
A big portion of the unhappiness with the Patriots’ 2023 season stemmed from one position: quarterback. The team’s two quarterbacks struggled and were among the least productive in the league, both collectively and individually. Now that we’ve established the stage, let’s go deep into the film and break out each quarterback’s performance during the last season.
By many accounts, Mac Jones’ 2023 season was a huge failure, with his performance deteriorating year after year in the NFL. Quite basically, he only received the “+” because the dearth of talent around him reduced expectations of him. After a successful debut season, Jones’ performance dipped in 2022, when the team finished 8-9 and missed the playoffs. After opening the 2023 season with three touchdowns in a close loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Mac Jones quickly fell into a string of poor performances.
A quarterback who came into the league as “able to get rid of the ball without putting it in harm’s way” and also “throws receivers open in tight coverage,” we saw none of that this year. Jones completed 224 of 345 throws for 2,120 yards, resulting in 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. It’s possible he could have thrown even more.
This deterioration was not only statistical; it was evident in every game; he was consistently hesitant and lacked the ability to read defenses. He developed a bad tendency of throwing from his rear foot, which threw his game off even more. Finally, Jones was benched indefinitely in favor of Bailey Zappe.
Jones’ benching was not a surprise choice. In fact, many fans and media members wondered why Jones was still starting after three benchings. He appeared to lack confidence in a variety of areas throughout the season, which showed in his play. For example, the quarterback repeatedly rushed into incorrect throws due to non-threatening pressure. Or second-guessing himself and missing an ideal opportunity to make a play. Even having one of the league’s best defenses, they were unable to overcome his mistakes.
Bailey Zappe’s promotion to starting quarterback for the New England Patriots was one of the few exciting storylines in an otherwise disappointing season for the squad. Thrown into the spotlight during Jones’ troubles, Zappe shown flashes of potential that hinted he might lead the offense. However, his overall performance was erratic, similar to Jones’, and he led the squad to only one victory as a starter. Zappe’s performance in the triumph, where he went 19 of 28 for 240 yards and three touchdowns, was a vivid demonstration of the inconsistency during his time as the starter.
