Zappe throws three first-half touchdowns as Patriots beat Steelers 21-18

Bailey Zappe threw three touchdown passes in the first half Thursday night as the New England Patriots beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 21-18. The win moved New England to 3-10 on the season.

Zappe finished 19-for-28 for 240 yards. It was the first time a Patriots quarterback had thrown three touchdowns in a game since the season opener. One of his throws, intended for JuJu Smith-Schuster, was tipped and intercepted, but otherwise the performance stood out. Aside from Mac Jones's outing against Buffalo, when he went 25-for-20 in attempts-to-completions terms of 272 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions, it was arguably the best by a Patriots quarterback this year.

Zappe is now 3-1 as an NFL starter. He won his first two starts last season, and New England's only loss in his four starts was a shutout by the Chargers on Sunday. "Just doing what I'm coached to do," he said. "Going through my reads, if the first read is open then take it."

Two of his touchdown passes went to tight end Hunter Henry, who celebrated his 29th birthday. The first was placed high enough for Henry to catch at the top of his leap, and the second was a fast throw that Henry caught while diving. Henry said building an early lead and avoiding playing from behind was "huge," and joked that the team's attempt at a birthday-candle celebration "probably didn't go great."

Smith-Schuster, who was drafted by Pittsburgh and spent five seasons with the Steelers, had his best game as a Patriot. He led New England with four catches for 90 yards, starting with a contested 37-yard reception in the first quarter. "I just saw a very confident quarterback," he said of Zappe. Of facing his old team, he said: "It was cool, it was awesome." He added that he has "so much love for the fans" and praised Steelers owner Art Rooney's leadership of the organization.

Safety Jabrill Peppers helped set up Zappe's second touchdown with an interception that gave the Patriots the ball at the 11-yard line. Kyle Dugger and Myles Bryant pressured Pittsburgh quarterback Mitch Trubisky on a blitz, forcing a wobbly pass that Peppers beat the receiver to.

The result also extended Bill Belichick's edge over Mike Tomlin. The two are the NFL's longest-tenured head coaches, and Tomlin is now 3-10 against Belichick all-time.

The quarterback position has been a season-long storyline in New England. Jones has made 11 starts and been benched four times, with 12 interceptions against 10 touchdown passes. His last three touchdowns came over four games. Former Patriots safety Devin McCourty said earlier this week that most of the blame for Jones's development should fall on the organization, which has had three offensive coordinators in three years.