Image courtesy of Al Bello/Getty Images

Stunningly, things are actually getting worse for the 2023 Patriots.

Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe combined for 136 total passing yards and three interceptions in an even-uglier-than-expected 10-7 loss to the Giants in New Jersey on Sunday.

New England is now 2-9 for the first time since 1992 and just the fifth time in franchise history.

Even though New York (4-8) only had 10 first downs and lost the total yardage battle (283-220), Big Blue still won the game. Both Jones and Zappe looked like guys who hadn’t gotten the full starter’s reps throughout the week, unable to find any rhythm. New England did run the ball for 147 yards and maintained possession for 34:06, but it was miscues that cost them.

The biggest one came with six seconds remaining as Chad Ryland missed a 35 yard field goal that would have forced overtime.

“Poor ball security on offense, we turned the ball over too many times,” said Bill Belichick postgame. “Got away from us. The few times we didn’t turn it over, we missed an opportunity at the end of the game to put it into overtime. So, not good enough. Too sloppy on the ball security.”

When asked about why Jones (12-21/89/0 TD/2 INT) started and played the first half with Zappe (9-14/54/0 TD/1 INT) playing the second half, Belichick didn’t give much insight.

“Thought both guys deserved a chance to play,” he said. “I told everybody to be ready to go. I told everybody to be ready to go, I think they both deserved to play.”

Both Jones and Zappe spoke at the podium postgame, a rare occurrence.

“Just bad quarterback play,” Jones said of his performance. “Not good enough by me. So, if the quarterback doesn’t play well, you’ve got no chance. Coach O’Brien told me I was out and I understood…I understand why that happened.”

“As far as I know, we walked in the locker room, (O’Brien) looked at me and just said ‘you’re starting off the second half.’ I said ‘yes sir,’ and that was about it,” added Zappe. “Incompletions, turnovers, it comes down to the quarterback. That’s on me.That second half, we started of hot first drive, marched right down and scored. I have to be able to keep the team going, keep the energy up and keep it going throughout the second half, but I wasn’t able to do that and that’s on me.”

That first drive of the third quarter Zappe mentioned was impressive, an 11-play march that spanned 60 yards – with most of it coming in the form of screens, swing routs and runs from Rhamondre Stevenson and Ezekiel Elliott – and ended with a 7 yard TD for Stevenson to make it 7-7, Stevenson ran for 98 yards on 21 carries on the day.

After trading punts, Zappe was picked off with 12:50 left in the game at the 50. Randy Bullock put the Giants ahead for good with 8:09 remaining on a 42 yard field goal. The teams traded punts again and New England took over at midfield with 3:15 to go in the game and two timeouts. Stevenson picked up 13 with 1:48 left down to the Giants’ 22, but from that point on, played for the tying field goal instead of the game-winning score.

Ultimately, Ryland pushed the kick wide left and Tommy DeVitto kneeled it out for the G-Men.

“The main part about that is to come out of it with a field goal,” Zappe said of the final drive. “That’s your main goal. It’s 10-7, worst case scenario is you kick the field goal. If you can score, great, our main objective was to go down there, score points and not give them the ball back. We were able to do that. We should have never been in that position, first off. That turnover I had, the pick, that led to their field goal. I mean, that’s on me. So, we should have never been in that position. I take that on me.”

The Giants coughed up the ball on their opening drive and Jabrill Peppers recovered at the New England 29, but the offense did nothing with it. The Patriots punted four times and had two interceptions from Jones in the first 30 minutes of action.  Jones also fumbled on a sack but the Patriots recovered, narrowly keeping him from his third turnover. New England had just 147 yards of offense and went 3-8 on third down in the first half.

On the other side, the defense played well recording six sacks, but only took the ball away once. New York’s only TD of the game came with 1:53 left in the half. Isaiah Rodgers caught a quick out from DeVitto, stiff armed Jonathan Jones and walked in.

The Chargers now come to town next weekend with an offense that can put up points in bunches if they get going. Can it still get worse for the 2023 Patriots?

Well, most people that grow up in New England have heard the saying ‘don’t like the weather? Wait five minutes and it will change.’

Right now, if you think it can’t get worse for Bill Belichick, wait a week.