Who Should I Start? Trey Lance or Bailey Zappe

Monday, January 6, 9:09 AM

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Trey Lance was under center on Sunday as a starting quarterback for the first time since Week 2 of 2022. The inexperienced signal caller had a solid day, completing 20-of-34 passes for 244 yards and carrying the ball six times for 26 yards. Lance played well but struggled to convert in the red zone, with four drives ending in field goals and one ending as a turnover on downs. On the first quarter drive where Dallas failed to convert on fourth down, Lance missed running back Rico Dowdle in the end zone on what should have been an easy pass. The Cowboys ultimately fell 23-19 to the Commanders, but Lance put together a solid audition as he is slated to hit free agency in the spring.

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.