For a half, the Patriots offense looked like the one we were promised all off-season. They were crisp, consistent, explosive even. As a play-caller, Bill O'Brien was in sync with his quarterback, and Bailey Zappe - who wasn't supposed to be the guy - looked every bit like he was.
Borderline unwatchable in recent weeks, the Pats' 21-point salvo in the first two quarters was pure bliss for a fanbase that has found itself conflicted, missing the good old days when winning was practically a birthright, but knowing that at this point, wins aren't necessarily what's best for the long-term health of the organization. The good news is - if you've bookmarked Tankathon - the Pats remain in line for the second overall pick in the Draft.
And that team - and offense - that helped get them to this point - they're now 3 and 10 on this season - would rear its ugly head in the second half, but boy was that first a thing of beauty. Consider:
- It was the first opening-drive touchdown of the season.
- A lead after one quarter for the first time since their last win, that coming against the Bills on October 22.
- 2 for 2 in the red zone after not getting inside the 30-yard line during last week's loss to the Chargers.
- The 21 points were 8 more than the Pats scored in the previous three games combined.
- Three touchdown passes, which hadn't happened since the week one loss to Philadelphia.
- The first 30-plus yard completion of the year (37 to JuJu Smith-Schuster).
"Just doing what I'm coached to do," said a smiling Zappe. "Go through my reads. The first read is open; take it. We have great playmakers. One-on-one with our guys, we'll take our guys any day."
"Bailey did a really good job getting the ball out, making some good plays, getting the ball into some of the skill guys' hands," said David Andrews, who was once again the first guy to the podium, later adding, "I thought he did a great job this week. It's a lot, I assume, on a quarterback in a short week. It's a lot on a center. So, I can't imagine what it is on the quarterback. Always respected the way he comes in and prepares each week, especially now, knowing what it may be for him."
This was the second straight start for Zappe, although, as Andrews mentioned, with less practice time because of the Thursday night kickoff. Yet he came out of the gate on a heater, hitting 11-of-17 throws for 168 yards and three TDs, the first Patriot QB to do that in a half since Tom Brady.
"It was a lot different," said Zappe of the short week. "I think I learned some things as far as preparation. Not a lot of physical reps. So, a lot of it was mental. A lot of it was me sitting behind a computer screen, watching plays and game after game after game."
Zappe energized the Pats' offense, and he had a swagger that had been missing from that position for a better part of the year. That confidence had been hard to find during training camp when the 24-year-old never strung together enough days to challenge Jones. But he had a ton of it in the opening half.
"It comes from all the guys," said Zappe. "They help me out a lot. They deserve - we deserve - this day today. So, to be able to have this moment and have it with these guys and have the game we had was awesome. As far as confidence, it comes from preparation and what you do the week before. And also having confidence in these guys. These guys go make plays, like Juju. Giving those guys a chance. That also gives you confidence when you see them go up and make a play. Then you're like, 'All right, I'm going to do it again.'"
"I just saw a very confident quarterback," said Smith-Schuster. "He was zipping it."
That euphoria didn't last. The Pats you've come to know and be disappointed by this year showed up in the second half. Zappe made a bad read and threw an interception, only to be bailed out by a) Ezekiel Elliott making a touchdown-saving tackle on the play and b) the defense coming up huge on a 4th and short inside the 10. Then, on the ensuing offensive drive, Zappe should have been picked again, but after a three-and-out, Bryce Baringer's punt was partially blocked, once again setting the Steelers up in prime field position. They cashed in, and the Pats had to hang on for dear life, but hang on, they did.
"There were things we need to clean up in the second half that we didn't do well, especially personally, but it's great to win," said Zappe, who added a "Go Pats!" as he exited the podium.
This is Zappe's team now, at least for the rest of the season. The team clearly has embraced him as the anti-Mac. Good for him. Truly. But this one win also does nothing to erase the bitter disappointment this season has been, nor should it alter where this franchise needs to go come January. However, for one night, some of that hard work was rewarded. For the players that lay their bodies on the line week after week, they earned that one, even if it damn near ended up the same way so many others have.