Rookie Bailey Zappe leads the Patriots to a 38-15 victory over the Cleveland Browns

10/17/22 By Claire Overton

The New England Patriots had a solid win against the Cleveland Browns yesterday led by rookie quarterback Bailey Zappe. Zappe recorded 309 passing yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. The Patriots outscored the Browns 38-15.

Zappe handed the ball off to Rhamondre Stevenson who ran 31 yards for the first touchdown in the second quarter to take the lead. Just after halftime, Zappe connected with Tyquan Thorton for his first passing touchdown of the game to re-take the lead from the Browns. Later on in the third quarter, Zappe throws the ball to Hunter Henry for a 31 yard passing touchdown solidifying the win. 

With this win, he received a quarterback rating of 118.4. He now has a quarterback rating of 100 or higher in his first two career starts making him the third rookie quarterback in the Super Bowl era to record a passer rating of 100 or higher in each of his first two career starts. Zappe joins Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino (1983) and Andy Dalton (2011) in this honor.

This game was also historic for head coach Bill Belichick who tallied his 324 career win, both in the regular-season and the postseason. Belichick is now tied with Pro Football Hall of Fame coach George Halas for the second most wins by a head coach. Don Shula, also a Hall of Fame coach, is the winningest coach in NFL history with 347 wins.