In a surprising turn of events, Mac Jones, the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots, was once again benched during Sunday's game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. This marked the fourth time Jones has been benched in a game this season. The decision to pull Jones at halftime came after a lackluster performance in the first half, where he threw two interceptions and completed just 12 of 21 passes for 89 yards.

The Giants held a 7-0 lead at halftime, but the backup quarterback, Bailey Zappe, immediately made an impact upon entering the game. Zappe led the Patriots on a game-tying 60-yard touchdown drive, with Rhamondre Stevenson rushing for a 7-yard score. Zappe displayed impressive accuracy, going 6-for-6 with 38 yards on the drive.

Prior to Sunday's game, there were reports indicating that both Jones and Zappe could see action against the Giants. Jones' poor performance in the first half made it an easier decision for Patriots head coach Bill Belichick to make the quarterback switch. It is worth noting that Belichick had refused to name a starting quarterback leading up to the game, likely due to Jones' recent struggles. It was in Week 10, during a loss to the Colts in Germany, that Jones was first benched for Zappe during a late two-minute drive.

Jones, who was selected as a Pro Bowler in his rookie season after being taken as the 15th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, has had a challenging sophomore season. In 11 games so far, he has thrown for 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. On the other hand, Zappe, a fourth-round pick in 2022, has had limited opportunities, with 10 completions on 25 attempts for 104 yards and an interception in three appearances this season.

The Patriots' decision to stick with Jones as the starter for Sunday's game against the Giants raised eyebrows, especially considering their dismal 2-8 record entering the matchup. However, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported that Zappe was expected to be "in the mix," suggesting that the team may still consider utilizing him in certain situations.

Throughout the week leading up to the Week 12 game, Belichick had not announced who would start at quarterback, fueling speculation about Jones' future as the starter. When asked earlier in the week if he would be starting against the Giants, Jones expressed hope and uncertainty, stating, "I hope so, That's the plan, I think." He also mentioned having "good conversations" with Belichick despite rumors of being dropped to third-string behind Zappe and Will Grier, who was waived on Saturday.

The Patriots' offense has struggled under Jones' leadership this season, averaging just 14.1 points per game, contributing to their poor record. Jones has been unable to replicate the success of his rookie season, where he played in all 17 games and threw for 3,801 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. This season, he has already thrown as many interceptions as touchdowns, with 10 of each.

As the Patriots continue to navigate their quarterback situation, the fans and the league will be closely watching to see if Jones can regain his form and lead the team to improvement in the remaining games of the season.