Bailey Zappe
DETROIT (AP) — In each of the first two years of Dan Campbell’s tenure with the Detroit Lions, he’s had to make major changes in his coaching staff midway through the season.
SACRAMENTO, Calif., (AP) — Lindsey Scott Jr. threw four touchdown passes to break a Football Championship Subdivision record and ran for two scores as seventh-seeded Incarnate Word rallied last to beat second-seeded Sacramento State 66-63 in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs on Friday night.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The idea that rookie Bailey Zappe could supplant Mac Jones as the Patriots’ starting quarterback was preposterous in the aftermath of his first career victory.
Rookie backup Bailey Zappe threw for 309 yards and two touchdowns in his third NFL game, Bill Belichick tied George Halas for second on the all-time list with his 324th victory, and the New England Patriots buried the Cleveland Browns 38-15.
CLEVELAND (AP) — Browns quarterback Jacoby Brissett committed three turnovers, the defense allowed a season high in points, and their fans lustily booed them throughout the second half.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — For the third straight week, who will be the Patriots’ starting quarterback is an open question.
DETROIT (AP) — This year was supposed to be different for the Detroit Lions.

With one postseason victory in 65 years and a 21st century filled with a series of unsuccessful coaches, Dan Campbell came into the season with a high approval rate from the fanbase.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Nostalgia was draped over the New England Patriots on Sunday, from the team’s throwback, 1980s-era jerseys to the minuteman logo painted at midfield.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The Patriots placed quarterback Brian Hoyer on injured reserve Thursday because of a concussion, the latest blow to New England’s depth.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Four days after Bailey Zappe made his NFL debut, the rookie Patriots quarterback responded like a veteran when asked whether he expects to make his first start this week.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The Patriots spent their offseason trying to improve the personnel around quarterback Mac Jones, and then used the preseason to tweak their offense to best utilize the players they added.
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Bailey Zappe’s NFL debut came quite a bit earlier than anticipated.

The rookie fourth-round pick from Western Kentucky began the season as New England’s third-string quarterback.
Mason Crosby made a 31-yard field goal as time expired in overtime, and the Green Bay Packers topped New England 27-24 to spoil Patriots rookie quarterback Bailey Zappe’s NFL debut.
Patriots quarterback Brian Hoyer left New England’s game with the Green Bay Packers because of a head injury.
The Patriots say quarterback Mac Jones sat out Thursday’s practice with an illness. Jones was a full participant for Wednesday’s practice after suffering a back injury during New England’s Week 1 loss at Miami.
Saturday

Western Kentucky (2-0) at Indiana (2-0), Saturday, noon ET (Big Ten Network)

Series record: Indiana leads 4-0.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (10-8; lost to Buffalo in wild-card round)

New faces: WR DeVante Parker, S Jabrill Peppers, LB Mack Wilson, CB Terrance Mitchell, OL Cole Strange, WR Tyquan Thornton, CB Marcus Jones, RB Ty Montgomery, QB Bailey Zappe.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Mac Jones completed a 45-yard pass to set up a touchdown in his first preseason action, Tristian Vizcaino hit a 51-yard go-ahead field goal and the New England Patriots beat the Carolina Panthers 20-10 in a preseason game Friday night.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The Patriots have been enduring growing pains on offense throughout the preseason as they adjust to a new simplified scheme.
The New England Patriots picked up three players to protect quarterback Mac Jones and one to back him up.
In Las Vegas, which bills itself as the “Entertainment Capital of the World,” an NFL draft bereft of star quarterback prospects wouldn’t seem a fit.
Western Kentucky quarterback Bailey Zappe now owns the single-season college football records for passing yards and touchdowns.
IRVING, Texas (AP) — Western Kentucky quarterback Bailey Zappe was named MVP of Conference USA on Wednesday after a vote of the 14 league coaches that also tabbed UTSA running back Sincere McCormick as offensive player of the year and Hilltoppers defensive end DeAngelo Malone as the top defender.
Appalachian State (10-3, Sun Belt) vs. Western Kentucky (8-5, Conference USA), Dec. 18, 11 a.m. ET

TOP PLAYERS
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — UTSA entered the season with a huge chip on its shoulder and the Roadrunners set it down Friday night to hoist the Conference USA trophy.
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) — Bailey Zappe threw four touchdown passes — all in the second half — and Western Kentucky spotted Marshall 14 points before pulling away for a 53-21 victory on Saturday, laying claim to Conference USA’s East Division crown.
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) — Bailey Zappe passed for 470 yards and six touchdowns as Western Kentucky rolled to a 52-17 victory over Florida Atlantic on Saturday.
HOUSTON (AP) — Bailey Zappe threw five touchdown passes, including three during a four-minute span in the second quarter, and Western Kentucky beat Rice, 42-21, on Saturday.
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) — Bailey Zappe threw four touchdown passes and ran for a fifth as Western Kentucky won its fourth straight game, knocking off Middle Tennessee 48-21 on Saturday.