By Kevin McCaskill Jr.
Cam Newton is exhibiting an alternate way to play the QB position in the NFL. Bill Belichick is the “Genius Charlatan” and his mistakes as a HC/GM have the Patriots in the position they are in now.
Steve Belichick and the Patriots defense lead the team to victory over the Cardinals, despite Newton’s bad QB play and his father’s mismanagement of talent and personalities over the last five to seven years.
The game started with Newton throwing an INT, which this season is more common than Newton throwing a TD. The Patriots offense, formulated by General Manager Bill Belichick, punted the ball on the other offensive possession in the 1st quarter. The defense gave up a TD and a FG in the 1st quarter.
The Patriots defense, up against a manageable deficit, stopped the Cardinals offense on 5 straight Patriots defensive series through the 2nd and 3rd quarter. Some highlights from this great defensive effort are:
1. 4th and Goal @ NE 1 yd line - Patriots stop Kenyan Drake from scoring 💪🏽 with three seconds left in the 2nd quarter.
2. The Patriots stopped the Cardinals on their opening drive of the 3rd quarter. Allowed one 1st down but stopped AZ on the next 3 downs.
3. Adrian Phillips comes up with INT of Kyler Murray after Murray’s pass is batted down at the Line of Scrimmage.
4. Patriots defense forces punt after Adam Butler gets sack on 3rd & 7 in the 3rd quarter.
During that time, NE scored 17 unanswered points and now were ahead 17-10 at the end of the third quarter.
At the beginning of the 4th, the Patriots defense gave up a 7 minute TD drive.
On the next Patriots offensive possession after the Cardinals scoring drive, Newton, almost predictably, threw an INT. This one was bad too. Damiere Byrd was “NFL open”. If the throw by Newton was accurate, towards the sideline, Byrd might have caught the ball or the ball goes out of bounds. Instead, Newton throws the ball inside, almost like he intended to throw the 🏈 to the Cardinals DB.
That common blunder for Newton gave the Cardinals great field position at the NE 47 yd-line. The Patriots defense gave up 20 yards in 6 plays. Zane Gonzalez had a 45 yard FG attempt and missed it 😳. The Patriots had another opportunity 🤞🏽.
The first play was a pass from Newton to RB James White for -1 yards. Newton took a sack on the next play. On 3rd & 13, Newton ran for 14 yards and was hit by FP SPORTS Top 15 player Isaiah Simmons. Simmons hit Newton helmet-to-helmet and was accessed an unnecessary roughness penalty. NE gained 7 yards on the next three downs.
4th & 3 and Nick Folk had a 50 yard FG opportunity to right Newton’s INTs. Folk hits the FG 👍🏽
The final Newton stats are: 9/18, 84 yds, 2 INT, 6.6 QBR; 9 car, 46 yds [4th offensive possession classic Cam Newton - run first, run second, incomplete pass].
If not for the younger Belichick, the Patriots definitely lose that game against the Cardinals. Steve came up with the right in-game defensive scheme for the opponent the Patriots last week.
Also, I’ve seen others mentioning or being surprised that Steve is calling plays. The biggest topic last year was, “who is calling defensive plays?”. Last year, it was a trio of play callers, Steve, Bill and Jerod Mayo. It’s not surprising Bill would elevate his son for the job; Steve is doing well despite many opt-outs and his father’s poor roster construction as General Manager.
The Patriots are still under .500 @ 5-6 and go to California to play the Los Angeles Chargers of San Diego.