AP Photo/ Ashley Landis
Are all the people that wanted this team to stick with Cam Newton and make a playoff push happy now?
After last night’s putrid, disgusting, embarrassing 24-3 loss to the Rams, New England is now 6-7 and in all likelihood going to miss the playoffs for the first time since 2008. The Rams(9-4) held the Patriots to 220 yards of total offense and 10 first downs.
To be clear, I have always said I know this team would never intentionally tank. However, if the Patriots had lost the Jets game and the Cardinals game they would be 4-9 and in the hunt for one of the top quarterbacks in the draft., or at least a top-10 pick.
It was clear by halftime Thursday night that Bill Belichick should have gone to Jarrett Stidham. Instead, Belichick continues to stubbornly stick with his terrible offseason plan for the quarterback position after Brady left, and New England won’t have a shot at a franchise-altering QB as a middle of the road NFL team.
“Yeah, great question, I’m really glad you asked that, Cam’s our quarterback,” Belichick said in a wise ass tone during postgame, not even allowing the full question to be asked before he answered.
“Certainly, the Rams were better tonight. They deserve a lot of credit. We were out coached, outplayed, about everything really.
Los Angeles went up 7-0 early on a 1-yard keeper from Jared Goff (16-25/137/1/1), and made it 10-0 with 5:10 to go in the first on a 35-yard field goal for Matt Gay. Just four seconds into the second quarter, Newton was looking for Damien Harris (11/50) for a screen, but Aaron Donald chipped Harris and Cam ultimately threw a 79-yard pick-six to Kenny Young, making it 17-0.
The next New England drive ended at the Rams’ 2-yard line when Newton lost two yards on 4th-and-goal. Los Angeles punted and New England finally got on the board with a 29-yard Nick Folk field goal before the half.
After an early punt for the Pats on the first possession of the second half, the Rams all but iced the game with a dominant 16-play, 90-yard drive that chewed up 9:42. The drive – and really the entire game – was the Cam Akers show as the running back had 179 yards on 29 carries, but it was a 2-yard Cooper Kupp TD reception that made it 24-3.
The final five Patriots drives ended with punt, punt, downs (again inside the red zone at the Rams’ 16-yard line and led by Stidham this time), punt, downs. Stidham ended up 5-7 for 27 yards and a pick.
“That’s not my call. I’m just doing what I’m asked,” Newton said when asked if he’s worried about being benched for the Miami game. “I still go into each and every week with the mentality to keep getting better and that’s what I plan on doing.”
To his credit, Newton has said everything right this year. He’s stunningly been a completely team-first guy and his teammates genuinely seem to like him. Having said all that, there is absolutely no reason for him to still be the starting quarterback for the final three games against the Dolphins, Bills and Jets. You know what he is now, and it’s nothing close to 2015 Cam. Jarret Stidham deserves an opportunity to show what he can do with three full weeks of prep as the starting quarterback. Even if he sucks, you currently have no plan at the most important position.
“”Yeah, Jarrett Stidham has worked hard and has tried to take advantage of his opportunities. That’s not really the point,” Belichick said when asked if he’s happy with the second-year guy’s development.
What the hell is the point then? Mathematically, the Patriots are still in the playoff hunt, but we all know this team is on a road to nowhere to close out 2020.
If fans still believe Newton should be the guy and that this team can still right the ship, do yourself a favor and go back and watch a replay of Thursday night’s debacle. The New England offense looked like a JV high school team playing against the varsity.
The 2020 season is over. Deal with it. It’s okay to question and criticize Bill, you won’t have your Patriot Nation membership card revoked, I promise.