The New England Patriots benched starting quarterback Mac Jones for the fourth time this season during Sunday’s game against the New York Giants.

Not that it did them much good.

Backup QB Bailey Zappe did guide the Patriots to a touchdown on the first series of the second half – something New England hadn’t had in eight quarters of football – but the Giants still posted a 10-7 victory. A fourth straight loss dropped the Patriots to 2-9 in the 2023 NFL season.

In New England’s previous game, the Patriots pulled Jones in favor of Zappe for their final series. But an interception wrapped up a 10-6 victory for the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 12.

Between the Colts and the Giants, New England coach Bill Belichick declined to name publicly a starting quarterback for Sunday’s game.

And it was more of the same after the game.

Asked if Zappe would stay in the lineup against the Los Angeles Chargers on Dec. 3, Belichick said: “We just finished the game.”

Asked about next week’s game, Jones said he was “not focused on that. Really just got to control what I can control, put my best foot forward and don’t quit.”

Despite the vote of no-confidence given to Jones in the previous game, the former Alabama All-American still was in the starting lineup on Sunday, extending his streak of starting every New England game, when healthy, since joining the team in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Jones completed 12-of-21 passes for 89 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions in the first half before taking a seat on Sunday.

His ledger included three three-and-out possessions, a decision to punt on fourth-and-7 at the Giants 37-yard line and two interceptions.

Rookie cornerback Deonte Banks picked off a deep throw at the New York 43-yard line, and linebacker Bobby Okereke ended Jones’ best series by intercepting a third-and-4 throw with New England at the Giants 23-yard line. Okereke’s 55-yard return to the Patriots 26 set up New York’s only touchdown.

“Bad quarterback play,” Jones said. “It wasn’t good enough by me, so if the quarterback doesn’t play well, you got no chance. …

“Coach (offensive coordinator Bill) O’Brien told me I was out, and I understood. I wasn’t moving the ball, wasn’t scoring points.”

New Engand went 60 yards on 11 plays to open the second half. Zappe completed 6-of-6 passes for 38 yards on the drive, which running back Rhamondre Stevenson ended with a 7-yard touchdown run.

But in the remainder of the game, Zappe completed 3-of-8 passes for 16 yards with no touchdowns and one interception.

After the touchdown, New England didn’t advance past its 36-yard line on three series, and an 18-yard return on an interception by former Alabama standout Xavier McKinney put the Giants on the Patriots 32 and set up the game-deciding field goal.

New England started its final possession at the 50-yard line after a punt. With 21 yards on four carries by Stevenson, and a 5-yard completion by Zappe on fourth-and-4, the Patriots got into possession for a 35-yard field-goal attempt. But Chad Ryland missed the kick with three seconds to play.

“I have to be able to keep the team going,” Zappe said. “Keep the energy up and keep it going in the second half. But I wasn’t able to do that, and that’s on me.”

Asked about using two quarterbacks, Belichick said: “I think they both deserved to play.”

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.