Cam Newton and the Patriots are regressing rapidly in front of our eyes

Cam Newton and the Patriots are both mired in serious slumps. It’s time for New England to consider making a change at the quarterback position. 

The Patriots signed Cam Newton with the idea that he could be an above-average starting quarterback as long as he stayed healthy. The reality in Foxborough is that his on-field production just isn’t good enough to make New England an above-average NFL team.

Newton unfairly raised expectations around the league with his dynamic performance against the Seahawks in a narrow Week 2 loss. He threw for 397 yards and ran for 47 more in one of the most exciting games of the NFL season to date.

Unfortunately, that’s the only time Newton has thrown for more than 162 yards this season. It’s fair to point out that New England’s offense isn’t predicated on throwing the ball all over the field, but that’s still a shockingly low level of production for a quarterback of his pedigree.

Newton’s performance hit rock bottom during his team’s listless first-half performance against the 49ers. Matched up against former Patriots’ signal-caller Jimmy Garoppolo, Newton turned in arguably the worst half of football of his professional career. He only managed to complete three of his six passes for a grand total of 11 yards.

Perhaps more importantly, he threw one interception that helped his team dig a massive hole against San Francisco.

The Patriots have to hope that Newton’s still shaking off the rust generated by his positive test for COVID-19. Otherwise, they may have to face the harsh reality that he’s just not the right choice to lead their offense moving forward.

Newton’s tape shows that he just doesn’t have the same zip on his throws that he enjoyed during the prime of his career in Carolina. He’s never been the most accurate passer in football, but now he lacks the arm strength to compensate for that weakness. The result renders Newton as a below-average passer whether he’s inside the pocket or trying to make throws out on the perimeter.

His only saving grace at the moment is his ability to make plays with his legs. New England can still generate an occasional big play by allowing him to spring a run on the outside, but that’s not a basis for a successful NFL offense. The Patriots lack the playmakers on the outside to help Newton turn those sorts of opportunities into consistent explosive plays.

The time is fast approaching for Bill Belichick to consider pulling the plug on the Newton experiment. Brian Hoyer is the veteran who enjoys the coaching staff’s trust, but Jarrett Stidham is the quarterback who should get his chance to prove he has what it takes to be an NFL starter. He may not have a future as the team’s franchise signal-caller, but New England needs to allow him to answer that question before the offseason arrives.

Newton is a dangerous NFL player to bet against, but the statistics and eye test confirm that he’s not a good quarterback at the moment. It’s time for the Patriots to make a change.