Exactly how and why the Patriots and Bill Belichick came to the conclusion that rookie Mac Jones should be the Week 1 starter at quarterback and Cam Newton needed to be released will likely remain cloudy for some time. When we get information and details on that, we'll pass it along in an occasional series, The Decision.
Along those lines, we have the coaches' film from the preseason games now. These are not widely available, as they are not part of GamePass. So we're going back over these games and re-grading the film. We're going to grade every throw and decision now that we have better context through the all-22. And, as always, we'll be providing video analysis of key plays (six clips here). There's some new information in here, including whether or not the QBs have an aversion to throwing the ball to Devin Asiasi, who was open a lot in this game:
PATRIOTS VS. EAGLES
Cam Newton
1-10-NE 26 (10:36) C.Newton pass deep left to J.Meyers to NE 44 for 18 yards (Z.McPhearson; A.Singleton). P2
Snap to pass: 3.70 seconds
Comment: Solid play, but the throw was probably a half-second late and caused Meyers to get hammered by two defenders, instead of having a chance to catch the ball early and making a play after the catch.
Pass grade (out of 5): 3.0
2-9-NE 45 (9:25) (Shotgun) C.Newton pass deep middle to K.Bourne to PHI 32 for 23 yards (Z.McPhearson). P3
3.57 seconds
Newton wanted the double move left but corner didn't bite, Newton did throw to Bourne in a place he could gain yards after the catch. Much better.
4.0
1-10-PHI 32 (8:45) C.Newton pass short right to J.Meyers to PHI 22 for 10 yards (Z.McPhearson) [M.Williams]. P4
2.88 seconds
Faked the linebacker to create a seam and delivered the ball well.
4.0
2-11-PHI 23 (7:25) (Shotgun) C.Newton pass short left to J.White to PHI 18 for 5 yards (A.Singleton).
Screen
2.5 (all completed screens get the baseline score).
3-6-PHI 18 (6:44) (Shotgun) C.Newton pass incomplete short left to J.White (A.Harris).
2.5 seconds
Not much open but Newton threw late to White, which allowed the defenders to close quickly and force the incompletion.
1.5
2-5-NE 39 (4:10) C.Newton pass short right to J.White to NE 47 for 8 yards (Z.McPhearson). P5
5.9 seconds
Eagles had this bang-action well-covered if Devin Asiasi ran the right route (iffy) and since Nelson Agholor didn't fight through a blatant hold. Not a great dumpoff to White and they left yards on the field.
2.0
1-10-NE 47 (3:26) C.Newton pass short middle to S.Michel to PHI 46 for 7 yards (E.Wilson).
4.45 seconds
Play was designed to go to Bourne on a crosser after Agholor's clearout, but Newton didn't throw it and was late to the checkdown.
1.5
2-3-PHI 46 (2:45) (Shotgun) C.Newton pass short right to S.Michel to PHI 42 for 4 yards (E.Wilson). P6
Screen.
2.5
2-10-PHI 28 (:20) C.Newton pass short left to J.Meyers for 28 yards, TOUCHDOWN
3.15 seconds
For once, perfectly executed. Newton threw the receiver into space even though he wasn't yet "open" and that allowed Meyers to catch and run with the ball. Not overly complicated, but Newton's best pass play to date in the preseason.
5.0
MAC JONES
2-13-NE 6 (10:21) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass incomplete short middle to K.Bourne (T.Edwards).
2.75 seconds
Jones delivers the ball in the right place, but he's a half-second left and is nearly picked off.
1.0
3-13-NE 6 (10:16) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass deep left to N.Harry to NE 25 for 19 yards (A.Singleton). P9
3.58 seconds
Looks right, then motions left and stops Harry from running into harm's way. Good, solid play.
4.0
1-10-NE 25 (9:32) M.Jones pass short left to S.Michel to NE 38 for 13 yards (A.Singleton).
PENALTY on NE-K.Cunningham, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at NE 25 - No Play.
2.40 seconds
This play is called back and isn't blocked well ... Jones actually makes a really nice play to keep this play alive and his scramble throw to Michel is a good one that would normally pick up more yardage, but Michel bobbles it.
3.5
1-20-NE 15 (9:08) M.Jones pass short middle to S.Michel to NE 22 for 7 yards (A.Singleton).
Screen.
2.5
2-13-NE 22 (8:29) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass short right to S.Michel to NE 41 for 19 yards (M.Jacquet). P10
3.77 seconds
Nothing open down the field and Jones places the ball well so Michel has time to turn, break a tackle and pick up another 11 yards.
3.5
2-8-NE 43 (7:15) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass short right to G.Olszewski to PHI 49 for 8 yards (T.Edwards). P11
2.07 seconds
Nothing open so this is a good, quick pass that would have been more accurate had Olszewski actually came out of his break well. His route running has been sloppy to this point in the preseason.
3.0
1-10-PHI 39 (5:24) (Shotgun) M.Jones scrambles left end to PHI 36 for 3 yards (T.Edwards).
PENALTY on PHI-Z.McPhearson, Defensive Holding, 5 yards, enforced at PHI 36. X13
3.50 seconds
Jones was going to go to Olszewski but he was tackled, and I'm not sure Bourne ran the right route against two deep safeties — not that Jones looked his way. The middle of the field was wide open and no one was there.
2.5
(3:57) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass incomplete short right to R.Stevenson (T.Edwards).
Screen
2.5
2-point conversion: Jones incomplete to Bourne
2.58 seconds
Didn't love the ball placement to Bourne, who could have caught the ball. Would have liked to see a pass with some heat on his back hip.
2.0
1-10-NE 45 (:38) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass incomplete deep left to N.Harry. NE-N.Harry was injured during the play.
3.28 seconds
Great deep pass to Harry. Should have been caught.
4.5
2-10-NE 45 (:31) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass short left to J.Taylor to PHI 47 for 8 yards (Z.McPhearson).
3.31 seconds
A lot was made out of Jones' not playing situationally here, but it's not like the Patriots ran a bunch of sideline routes. They ran none. Jones did well with what he had, giving Taylor a nice ball on the run where he had a chance to run out of bounds.
2.5
1-10-NE 25 (15:00) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass short left to K.Wilkerson pushed ob at NE 31 for 6 yards (Z.McPhearson).
1.58 seconds.
Quick hitch.
2.5
2-4-NE 31 (14:45) (No Huddle, Shotgun) M.Jones pass deep middle to G.Olszewski to NE 48 for 17 yards (M.Jacquet). P17
3.63 seconds
Not much open, Jones does well to climb the pocket and fit one in to Olszewski.
4.0
1-10-NE 48 (14:22) (No Huddle, Shotgun) M.Jones pass short left to J.Taylor to PHI 45 for 7 yards (R.Smith; Z.McPhearson).
2.71 seconds
Checkdown. No issues with the decision.
2.5
1-10-PHI 33 (13:36) (No Huddle, Shotgun) M.Jones pass short right to J.Taylor to PHI 30 for 3 yards (M.Jacquet).
3.78 seconds
Probably should have stuck with Olszewski a bit longer because he was open.
1.5
2-7-PHI 30 (13:15) (No Huddle, Shotgun) M.Jones pass short right to G.Olszewski to PHI 9 for 21 yards (E.Riley). P19
2.45 seconds
The ball Jones rifled into Olszewski under pressure, which was an excellent throw. If he's not pressured, Asiasi is open for a TD.
4.5
1-10-NE 30 (6:40) M.Jones pass short middle to R.Stevenson pushed ob at NE 38 for 8 yards (S.Bradley).
3.2 seconds
Checkdown. Nothing readily open.
2.5
2-5-PHI 46 (4:50) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass short left to I.Zuber to PHI 34 for 12 yards (L.Hill). P22
2.18 seconds
Good, hard throw but Asiasi was open down the middle for a bigger play. Are they not throwing to him on purpose?
3.0
1-10-PHI 16 (3:41) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass incomplete short middle to De.Ross.
2.59 seconds
Drop by Ross.
2.5
3-6-PHI 12 (3:00) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass short right to G.Olszewski to PHI 2 for 10 yards (E.Riley; K.Seymour). P24
2.09 seconds
Solid throw to Olszewski, who could have scored if he turned up instead of back.
2.5
1-2-PHI 2 (2:22) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass incomplete short right to D.Asiasi.
1.72 seconds
Perfect throw, dropped by Asiasi because he had his hands the wrong way.
4.0
IN CONCLUSION
No time with the first-team line in this game for Jones, but he again had almost double Newton's reps.
Jones had three passes graded below average (9.4 percent). Newton had the same, but it was out of just nine dropbacks (33.3 percent).
Newton had four plus passes (44.4 percent). Jones had five but his percentage fell due to volume (23.8 percent).
So, like the Washington game, Jones shows a clear advantage in minimizing the bad plays. Again, his floor WAS higher. Newton had a better ceiling in this game, but it wasn't a huge advantage. Both had their moments. Newton showed some improvement, especially on the Meyers touchdown, but he also left yards on the field with his timing and ball placement. Jones may have left a few plays on the field, but he usually got the Patriots something.
Overall, Jones was way quicker with his release on non-screen plays — almost a full second on average — and graded out slightly better.
Game 2 winner: Jones, who leads 2-0.