Who Should I Start? Mac Jones or Bailey Zappe

Monday, January 6, 11:37 AM

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones had a solid final game of the season in a 26-23 overtime loss to the Indianapolis Colts. He put up 20 completions on 32 attempts for 225 yards and a touchdown. He also threw a pick. The backup quarterback took over for the injured Trevor Lawrence back in Week 13 against the Houston Texans and has been up and down ever since. This performance was somewhere in between. He barely surpassed 200 yards in five quarters and turned the ball over yet again, but was able to find Parker Washington for another touchdown and get Brian Thomas Jr. over 100 yards receiving in a near victory. Mac Jones will most likely return to a backup role, whether with the Jaguars or another team, in the 2025 NFL season.

Saturday, January 4, 9:28 PM

Cleveland Browns quarterback Bailey Zappe completed 16 of his 31 passes for 170 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions while adding two yards on two carries in a 35-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 18. Zappe made his first and only start of the season for the Browns in the finale while showing spotty accuracy and a lack of arm strength in the lopsided loss. His first interception came in the first quarter and was a back-breaker as it was thrown right into the hands of rookie corner Nate Wiggins, who returned it 26 yards for a touchdown. The Browns turned to Dorian Thompson-Robinson to lead a drive at the end of the first quarter but he only wound up taking six snaps in the contest before the team reinserted Zappe at the beginning of the second quarter. An unrestricted free-agent heading into the offseason, Zappe will look to catch on as a backup quarterback somewhere ahead of the 2025 season.