Through two games, the Cam Newton Experience went about as well as the Patriots could have hoped.
Newton carried the offense with his legs in the opening win over the Dolphins. Against the Seahawks, his right arm came alive as he showed his passing prowess, and the Patriots came up 1 yard short — and a better pass to Julian Edelman a few plays earlier — from leaving Seattle 2-0.
The Patriots beat the Raiders 36-20 on Sunday at Gillette, but this was a far different game. The Patriots basically got no help from Newton and had to use a revitalized running game and multiple mistakes by Vegas and QB Derek Carr to improve to 2-1.
Maybe the silver lining is the Patriots showed a third way they can win — without Newton being Superman. But the list of NFL teams that can win consistently against good competition without efficient play from their quarterback is few and far between.
So the Patriots, who now face a daunting stretch of games against the Chiefs, 49ers, Bills, Ravens, Texans and Cardinals in the next two months, are going to need a more consistent Newton throwing the ball. So it's worthwhile to try to target the reasons for Newton's struggles.
That discussion, plus analysis videos, positioning ratings, pressure charts and 3 up/3 down are below for BSJ members...
In the first half alone, Newton had one plus play — a nice throw and decision to Edelman on a crosser — and nine negative plays in the first half alone. A breakdown of the negative plays: five poor decisions, interception (decision), a poor throw behind N'Keal Harry, a half-sack on third down, and a hurry.
The good news? Newton was better in the second half with two plus plays — his 27-yard throw to Harry was terrific and under pressure, a nice screen — and just two negative plays (run stuff and a decision to Edelman).
But just about every third down for the Patriots in this game was poor, with Newton mostly to blame. A look at some of the issues:
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