We were on the precipice of overtime. On Christmas Eve. Great googly-moogly. In a season from hell, the Patriots almost outdid themselves, vomiting up a 16-point fourth-quarter lead in Denver to terror-stricken Russell Wilson (he is a shell of his former self).
But then Bailey Zappe, the guy Bill Belichick cut back in August and demoted to third string before the loss to Las Vegas, had his moment: a game-winning drive - in Denver, of all places - the first of his career.
"I'm on Cloud Nine," said a giddy Zappe in the postgame.
That final drive didn't begin with promise. Starting from their 19-yard-line - with just 58 seconds remaining - Zappe handed off to Ezekiel Elliott on the first two plays of the series. The Broncos, needing a win to keep their playoff hopes alive, called timeout after each of those touches. But on third down, Zappe slightly underthrew a 50-50 ball down the left sidelines. DeVante Parker contorted his body to corral the pass despite Patrick Surtain being in his back pocket. A couple of hurried completions later - where Zappe showed good poise in the face of pressure - led to Chad Ryland's stunning 56-yard field goal and just the team's 4th win against 11 defeats.
"Proud of Bailey," said Elliott. "Just how much ownership he's taken of this offense, how much leadership he's taken of this offense. Just happy for that kid."
Kurt Warner, who was calling the game, mentioned that he spoke with Zappe in August and that the young player wondered aloud if he belonged in the league. He indicated he was in a better place when they spoke again leading up to the game.
"That was right after I got cut. So it was kind of - at that point in time - it was the worst thing that had ever happened to me in my football career," said Zappe, adding that he was "glad I have somebody like that, outside, of course, of my coaches that I can go to, that I can pick their brain."
Zappe once again had a great interaction with offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien on the sideline - happiness, relief, and an awkward high-five. Most of the reactions between QBs and O'B have seen the teapot (O'Brien) fight not to bubble over - though he's had his moments, rightfully so. Sunday night, Zappe caught some shrapnel early, but you're seeing some of the intangibles that have inspired a dead-ass offense into ones that have shown signs of life here in December.
"I fully believe, no matter what, whoever is out there covering my guys out there in press coverage, anything, if I put the ball up there, I know it's going to be incomplete or we're going to come down with it," he said. "O'B is a great coach. He coaches hard. And I love it."
Several plays in that third quarter stand out. The 41-yarder to Demario Douglas to start the third quarter was pretty. Zappe escaped a free rusher off the edge, sliding up and to the left in the pocket, then dropping that ball into Pop, who made an impressive catch. Later in that series, Zappe planted that back foot and ripped a dart to Pop on a quick out for another 13 yards. I'll even throw in his first touchdown pass to Elliott on the swing pass that was put exactly where it needed to be, allowing the veteran running back to catch the ball in stride, hurdle a defender, and find the end zone.
The second touchdown drive also featured Zappe pushing the ball downfield, perfectly placing a go route to Parker, who once again outdueled Surtain. Then, on the scoring play to Mike Gesicki, it was Zappa's feet that allowed him to escape the rush, but what you really have to like about the second-year pro is how he keeps his head up, which enabled him to concentrate on the big tight end in the back of the end zone, not the orange jerseys coming at him.
"He shows a lot of poise, a lot of moxie," said David Andrews. "I appreciate it."
Now look, if there was one good thing about the Patriots' season going sideways, it was the promise of one of the top picks in the NFL Draft and possibly another crack at a franchise quarterback. But unlike the Mac Jones selection three seasons ago - when he was the 5th QB taken - this time, the Pats could be debating Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, or the fast-rising Jayden Daniels. That trio of signal callers is more fit for the modern game, vastly superior athletes with stronger arms than the more pocket-confined, weaker-flippered Jones. Instead, the Pats' second win in three weeks didn't quite dash those Christmas wishes but certainly jeopardized them (they dropped from 2nd to 4th in the draft order).
Even I - with my cold, black heart - can appreciate in a season full of frowns and coal in the stockings - what a victory means to the players and coaches who have poured so much into this, even as it went off the rails months ago.
There is some thought that maybe Zappe could have helped change the course of the season had he been inserted earlier. Still, I don't fault the Patriots coaching staff for starting Jones week after week, even as the quarterback's play sunk to levels that had us all wondering if we owed Matt Patricia an apology. He was the best they had in the spring. He was the best they had in the summer. And, in talking to those in the know, Mac stayed ahead of Zappe well into the regular season, be it in practice or on those several occasions when Jones got benched.
The problem with that was what I reported in the aftermath of the Cowboys' loss and then again following the ass-whupping suffered at the hands of the Saints a week later. The huddle was no longer responding to him. The defense openly challenged Jones during their few higher-tempo sessions on the fields behind Gillette Stadium. They were all in the "anyone but Mac" camp.
Well, now the Pats know Jones isn't it. But Zappe? Okay, I know it's late, and I have sugarplums dancing in my head - and Zappe hasn't come close to playing a complete game yet - but the 24-year-old is making a case that he belongs in the quarterback room next year, regardless of who's in charge. Considering where he was back in August, that's something to be proud of.