Yes, it was the Jets, who may have been trying to lose at certain points (12 men on the field, for a short field goal ... really?).
And when you're talking about being down 27-17 to a winless Jets team featuring Joe Flacco at quarterback and facing a 3rd and 6 from your own 36-yard line in the fourth quarter, things aren't exactly going well in your corner of the world.
But for this Patriots team — losers of four straight, some in excruciating fashion, reeling from injuries to an already thin lineup — this was no small feat. It may wind up being just a blip in an otherwise lost season. Or it could start some sort of positive movement with seven winnable games left on the slate.
That's for another time and for people who want to grouse just because the Patriots are no longer a juggernaut that just wins by showing up some weeks. Welcome to the other half, where every NFL win can be like pulling teeth. Just because it's hard when it didn't use to be, doesn't mean a victory like Monday night, a 30-27 walk-off special over Team Green, means nothing.
And that's especially true about Cam Newton. He was stopped at the 1 in Seattle. He threw wide of N'Keal Harry against the Broncos. Newton got pulled for Jarrett Stidham in a blowout loss to the 49ers. He fumbled 14 yards away from beating the Bills.
No, the Cam Newton Revival Show has not had many feel-good numbers in it this season.
But you have to hand it to him on Monday night. Down 10 points with a quarter to play, Newton made several timely plays to help pull the Patriots out of their tailspin and, for at least one night, know what it felt like to be winners again. You might scoff while glancing at those six replica rings on your table, but that's not nothing.
A look at the key plays down the stretch, and Newton's part in them:
3RD & 6 AT NE 36
(14:25) (Shotgun) C.Newton pass short left to D.Byrd to NE 46 for 10 yards (B.Austin).
With a rusher at his feet (why can't the Patriots get players like Harvey Langi?) and another coming from left, Newton throws a gotta-have-it pass to Damiere Byrd just as he comes out of his break to keep the chains moving. Yes, Newton stared down the receiver and would have had an issue if the Jets were in off coverage, but it worked well here for 10 yards. Throwing in the proper rhythm of the offense has been an issue for Newton.
2ND & 10 AT NE 46
(13:45) C.Newton pass short left to J.Meyers to NYJ 43 for 11 yards (H.Langi). NYJ-T.Basham was injured during the play.
If the Patriots go on and do anything this season, this would be the play you'll look back on. A sack here and it's 3rd and 15 and the Patriots are likely punting back to the Jets. Newton ducks out of a sack then finds Meyers for 11 yards with another rusher coming at him.
Cam Newton and Jakobi Meyers are making PLAYSpic.twitter.com/9b5fatz62n
— PFF (@PFF) November 10, 2020
Cam is so happy and I am even more happy for him, I love this dude pic.twitter.com/gG2rjIeX2z
— Casey Baker (@CaseyBake16) November 10, 2020