Patriots Unsurprised By Jacoby Brissett’s Performance In Relief

FOXBORO, Mass. — The Patriots have one of the best backup quarterbacks in the NFL.

Jacoby Brissett proved that in Sunday’s win over the New York Jets.

Brissett began the season as a starter, which proved to be a disastrous formula for an offense devoid of talent and continuity. The Patriots couldn’t afford to keep rolling him out there with shaky offensive line play, untrustworthy receivers and an elementary system, so they moved to a higher-upside option in Drake Maye in Week 6.

Maye left Sunday’s contest with a concussion, however, which allowed Brissett to return to the lineup and prove that he was at least capable of keeping things afloat amid the chaos — to the surprise of no one in the Patriots’ locker room.

“(Jacoby’s) a vet. I mean, it’s not like he’s never been put in that situation,” Christian Gonzalez said following the game. “I mean, he came in, we rallied behind him. We’re excited he went out there and handled business on the offensive side.”

New England is better with Maye in the starting lineup, but Brissett’s ability to lead the unit in uncomfortable moments is invaluable in his new role. The Patriots aren’t ever going to win a battle of talent, so having a veteran quarterback who can come in and instill confidence when times are tough can’t be overlooked — especially when you see what other teams are rolling out there.

“Jacoby’s a proven vet, a guy that’s been around, played a lot of football, obviously played a lot of games with us this year,” Hunter Henry said on Sunday. “He had to sit the last couple weeks, but he’s always ready, man. For him to step up, lead a big drive to win the game was huge and I was super happy to go out there and compete with him.”

“Yeah, that’s incredible teaching, incredible leader. There’s a reason why he’s a team captain. He does so much like before we even get out on the field, he does so much in (the locker room),” Austin Hooper echoed. “To be able to communicate with everybody, get everybody on the same page, adjustments, everything. Then once you get on the field, the command he has in the huddle, being a veteran quarterback, you would expect that. He got in the huddle, he told everyone, ‘All right, take a deep breath, let’s go to work.’ So, I mean when there’s chaos going on, he never wavers. That’s why he’s a team captain.

“You got two options, you either fold or you fight. Thank God Drake’s going be alright, but we’ve got Jacoby, too, who has won here. You don’t really blink. (It’s a) next man up mentality. It’s cliché but when situations like this arise, it comes to fruition.”

Brissett didn’t just fall into a situation where he could ride the coattails of his teammates to a victory, either. The Patriots scored on three of their five offensive drives in the second half — all while trailing — to eventually secure their first victory in seven weeks.

“He has held his situation this season with poise. He has been nothing short of amazing in his role in handling adversity; he has done a great job at that,” Jonathan Jones said. “He blocked out the noise, he came in and was a leader. He did everything we needed him to do.”