Crowe: The 2023 Season Week #13 - It Is Zappe Time
John Crowe, Sports Contributor
Crowe: The 2023 Season Week #13 - It Is Zappe Time
Will there be winning times as the Pats dust off their throwback uniforms as a callout to Pat Patriot? Surely, it can’t get much worse after last week’s 10-7 loss to the Giants ended with a 35-yard field goal miss by rookie Chad Ryland? Jones reportedly was just a bystander, watching and not even taking a snap in practices this week while Zappe and practice-squad quarterback Malik Cunningham split reps. Talk about your bad look for a former first-round pick.
Yet even though it appears Zappe will be the starter playing without wide receivers Demario Douglas (concussion) and Kayshon Boutte (shoulder/illness); he didn’t give away that information when he met reporters Thursday.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST"Nothing set in stone. I'm just taking it day by day. Treating every rep I get in practice like it's a game rep and just preparing like I do every other week," Zappe said."It's cliche to say it, but I try to prepare every week like I'm the starter as far as watching film, studying the plays, and getting with the guys. For me, this week is not any different."
As for the Patriots, they are hoping it will be a different Sunday and that it will result in a victory, something they haven’t had since week 7 over a month ago.
Want more bad news? New England made history Thursday becoming part of the first-ever Monday night football game to be flexed out of primetime when its game with Kansas City on December 18th was moved back to Sunday, December 17th at 1 pm in favor of the Eagles vs. Seahawks game. Who knows, maybe Zappe will make Pats fans happy again or Cunningham will ignite the crowd. If nothing else, the folks in Foxboro need a change.
NFL Week 13 Power Rankings
10. Cleveland Browns (7-4, Last week 8th)
The only thing that might stop the Browns is health. Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson is in concussion protocol, leaving the just-signed Joe Flacco as the possible starter against the Rams. On the other side of the ball, Myles Garrett will play after hurting his shoulder in a loss Sunday in Denver.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-4, Last week not ranked)
The Steelers could be dangerous now that they have an offense to go with that havoc-raising defense. With assistants Eddie Faulker and Mike Sullivan now running the offense for the fired Matt Canada, Pittsburgh put up 400+ yards for the first time since the 2020 playoffs. Watch out AFC.
8. Detroit Lions (8-4, Last week ranked 6th)
Just when you think the Lions are going to take it to the next level, they play down to the level of their competition, almost losing to the Bears and then going down in defeat on Thanksgiving Day against the Packers. A road win at New Orleans would go a long way at getting some confidence back in Motown.
7. Dallas Cowboys (9-3, Last week ranked 9th)
The Cowboys finally beat a team with a winning record Thursday, rallying to defeat Seattle 41-35 as the Seahawks came into the game with a 6-5 record. Dak Prescott is playing lights out (7 TDs and 0 interceptions over the last two games) but he’ll have to continue that trend as Dallas takes on the Eagles, Bills, Dolphins, and Lions over the next month.
6. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-3, Last week ranked 8th)
The Jaguars are getting more battle-tested as the season goes on. Trevor Lawrence and Calvin Ridley hooked up twice as the Jags held off a furious Texans rally for a quality road victory. The schedule gets easier too moving forward with games against the Bengals, Bucs, Panthers, and Titans mixed in with matchups with the Browns and Ravens.
5. Miami Dolphins (8-3, Last week ranked 5th)
The Dolphins' offense wasn’t spectacular in the first-ever Black Friday game against the Jets, but then again, they didn’t need to be. Seven sacks and two interceptions, including an amazing 99-yard touchdown off a New York hail mary to end the first half stymied any momentum the Jets had. Next up for Miami: the Commanders in Washington.
4. Baltimore Ravens (9-3, Last week ranked 3rd)
How good have the Ravens been this season? They’ve led going into every fourth quarter this season. Baltimore can enjoy its win over the Chargers with a bye in week 13 before hosting the Rams next week. Going into Sunday’s play, they hold a half-game lead over the Chiefs for the top seed in the AFC.
3. Kansas City Chiefs (8-3, Last week ranked 4th)
Down 14-0 to Las Vegas, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs ran off four scores in five drives to set up a 31-17 victory. If Kansas City can get any consistency out of rookie receiver Rashee Rice to along with second-year standouts Skyy Moore and Isiah Moore, the Chiefs might find themselves revisiting Las Vegas in early February for another Super Bowl visit.
2. San Francisco Chiefs (8-3, Last week ranked 2nd)
The Niners Thursday night win in Seattle showed the same dominance they had earlier this season. Heading back to Philly Sunday for an NFC Championship Game rematch with a healthy Brock Purdy sets up a battle of the top two teams in our power rankings. It also sets up San Francisco with its best shot at taking down the Eagles and possibly securing the NFC’s #1 seed.
1. Philadelphia Eagles (10-1, Last week ranked 1st)
It’s the same story every week for the Eagles. They don’t play their best game, but they find a way to win. Down 10 to Buffalo, they get a 59-yard field goal on the final play of regulation by Jake Elliott and then win on a Jalen Hurts touchdown run in overtime. They may not be so lucky this week hosting San Francisco where if they give up 505 yards of offense like they did against the Bills, they may find their second loss.
Five games to watch in week 13
Chargers at Patriots (Sunday 1 pm on CBS)
Lions at Saints (Sunday 1 pm on FOX)
Broncos at Texans (Sunday 1 pm on CBS)
49ers at Eagles (Sunday 4:25 pm on FOX)
Chiefs at Packers (Sunday 8:20 pm on NBC)