Felger and Mazz: Thoughts on the Patriots big win over the Browns

The New England Patriots defeated the Cleveland Browns 38-15 in Bailey Zappe’s second career NFL start at quarterback. On Monday, Felger, Mazz, and Jim Murray gave their thoughts on the Patriots win over the Browns.

TRANSCRIPT:

Jim Murray: You got something here. And I think if you don't want to acknowledge that you've got your head in the sand, you're a mack apologist. Whatever yesterday proved it because they wanted him to throw yesterday. They really did. And it's something I think you were right to bring up.

Felger: They being the Browns?

Jim Murray: No, the Patriots. I think they wanted. Like if you extrapolate the long touchdown run on third and ten and then the take one Thornton end around, they really didn't run the ball yesterday. I don't think that they wanted to. They wanted Bailey to throw.

Felger: The Browns didn't want them to run. And so the Browns took away the. The Browns wanted Zappe to pass as much as you think the Patriots did so that I think it started with the Browns because it's true.

Jim Murray: Well, we can debate that. And sure, maybe the Browns did emphasize that because, look, everyone has been able to run all over them, but either way succeeded. You know, whether the Browns tried to force him to throw or the Patriots wanted it, Bailey Zappe threw for over 300 yards. And the ball security, the continuity with the offense, the footwork in the pocket by the kid, his overall pocket presence, his ability to feel the rush, the touchdown in the red zone to Tyquan Thornton. That's the one play. If you're a mac apologist, a AP denier, you are. You don't have the fever. Whatever. You're inoculated, Gasper. Explain that one to me. Try to try to downplay that one where the kid steps up, feels pressure, scans the field, finds the guy, throws in a small window. Touchdown. There's something there again. Is he Brady 2.0? No, I'm not going to go that far with it. But based on where they were earlier in the season with Mac Jones, either freelancing, not trusting the offense, not trusting the offensive coaches, whatever, it looks completely different. It looks buttoned up. They're securing the ball. This kid has this this thing. There's a thing here with him. And if you're denying it, you got your head in the sand.

Mazz: So going into the game, I told you I wanted him to play last week. I wanted him to put more on his plate. I wanted to see how he responded, and he passed with flying colors. So here's where I am now. I want him to play until he can't. Yeah.

Felger: Wait a minute. So you just benched Mac Jones? Yep.

Mazz: Proceed until it's time. Until something changes. I'm playing him. I'm playing happy. That's not changing for me until something else happens.

Felger: So that was quick.

Mazz: Yep.

Felger: That was quick.

Mazz: Yes, it was.

Felger: It was ten days ago. You said, if I see one more Zappe fever call on my board, I'm going to do something I don't remember.

Mazz: Okay. But don't you think yesterday changed a little bit? Yes. So this is what I'm getting at, that I needed to see him whip the ball around a little bit. I needed to see what it looked like, how he handled it. And because it based on what I said to people at the beginning was, what have you seen that makes you think this kid can play? And the answer was to that point. Nothing. Yesterday. That changed to me. To me, I'm just giving you my $0.02. That changed yesterday to the point where at one point during the game, I found myself saying to myself. Bailey's AP, Mac Jones. I don't know if there's a big difference there.

Felger: Can you tell me what specifically?

Mazz: I think he really moves well in the pocket. Really, really well. Like so when it's not his first read, he can shuffle to his left, shuffled to his right, step up like, and give himself a little bit of time to move on the next thing and go right down the line. He processes that part of it really, really well. And the play that Murray's talking about the touchdown to Thornton was sort of evidence of that. I mean, you know, he had to sort of shift around, find some space for himself, which he did. He doesn't panic. There was a throw early in the game when there was a defender coming right at him and he didn't flinch. And so I think he's got guts. I thought also yesterday he threw a better ball than he did in the first two games. Now, I'm not telling you, I loved every one of them. There were a couple, right? Thought he really kind of just floated them. And I didn't love that. But then again, I say that about Mac Jones. So I don't think there's I really don't think there's a big difference given that it's a kid's third game. I think he's pretty close to as good as Mac Jones saw.

Felger: You know, I'm not going there and I'm not going all the way. Give the job to Zappe.