The Patriots may just have to accept that this is the team they have in 2020, Tom Brady isn’t walking through that door, and as Bill Belichick is fond of saying, it is what it is. Against the 49ers on Sunday, Cam Newton completed just nine of 15 passes for 98 yards, no touchdowns, and three interceptions before he was benched in favor of Jarrett Stidham.
"I'll take that" – @fred_warner, probably #SFvsNE on CBS pic.twitter.com/vlxISF98kJ
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 25, 2020
Going deep and there's @Mannymoseley! No. 41 with 49 yards on the return!#SFvsNE on CBS pic.twitter.com/yK9AkTokeI
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 25, 2020
Defense came to eat 😤
📺 @NFLonCBS #SFvsNE pic.twitter.com/4hjF2oOVnJ
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 25, 2020
Not that it was ALL Newton’s fault. On his second pick, taken by San Francisco cornerback Emmanuel Moseley, it would have helped had receiver Jakobi Meyers not fallen down on the deep ball. And the third pick was an (admittedly overthrown) pass to Julian Edelman that went off Edelman’s hands and given as a gift to cornerback Jamar Taylor. But still — this offense has been ugly, Newton has not played well, and at this point, Belichick can’t be blamed for exploring all his options.
Problem is, things haven’t been any better with Stidham in there.
Patriots offense in a nutshell today: pic.twitter.com/6o5Q4JQf8r
— Sam Monson (@PFF_Sam) October 25, 2020
FOUR! Count em, 4 picks for the #49ers defense today!
📺 @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/cdj1zeDPAF
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 25, 2020
When Brady left the Patriots, the argument was going to be, who would do better without the other. So far, Brady is leading that particular match with a vengeance.
