NFL Notes: Pats enjoying Zappe Hour

Playing quarterback as a rookie is not easy, and doing so as a third-stringer who spends most of his time running the scout team makes the task even more daunting. But Bailey Zappe has made the transition from obscure bench player to the starting spotlight look seamless.

He came off the bench in Green Bay under the worst of circumstances and did enough to give his team a chance to pull off an upset before falling in overtime. He wasn't asked to do much that afternoon, mostly handing off to his running backs and executing a handful of play-action passes while relying on his defense.

A week later, with starter Mac Jones still unable to return, Zappe prepared for his first start as the Detroit…