In the Cam Newton vs. Tom Brady discussion, let’s just say I’m glad to be watching the Patriots this season – Boston.com

Newtons timing was off, his footwork, his mechanics, everything. When the 2nd quarter didnt start better (he was 5 for 13 for 35 passing lawns at one point), the easy inclination was the wonder how he and the Patriots would respond.

It should come as not a surprise that Newton, a 10-year vet and the 2015 MVP, reacted well to difficulty. However a week after a tough however motivating loss to Seattle, in a video game Sunday that the Patriots truly required to win with the Chiefs looming next week, it was satisfying to see him do it for the very first time as a Patriot.

And male, is he fun. The efforts to get in touch with his younger colleagues, to construct bonds with his younger pass catchers even when they do aggravating things, has actually been a pleasure to see, from the private pregame handshakes and the group get-fired-up session with the receivers, to him hilariously disappearing from Harry during a late conversation on the bench. CBS really ought to include a Cam cam that focuses completely on him.

Im acknowledging this in the hours after Newton actually sent his least remarkable efficiency of the young season. He finished 17 of 28 passing for 162 yards, with an interception and a goal Sunday, resulting in a middling 73.8 rating.

The franchise of Vinny Testaverde, Steve DeBerg, and Steve Spurrier should be thrilled with what he has brought them. He appears like the exact same quarterback he was a season back– productive, possibly a little less precise than he used to be, requiring, and joyless when things begin to go wrong, and often even when they have not.

I never desired to see Brady play elsewhere. Hes completely ours in legend and accomplishment, but theirs in the meantime. It will be permanently strange to see him in those homely Bucs jerseys, his mannerisms the same however the environments so various.

Enable me that unwillingness, and in turn I will grant you this: Im still not interested in viewing Brady play for any other franchise, though I do out of expert commitment. Ends Up Cam Newton, Patriot, is far more interesting than anything Brady is doing for the Bucs now, or anything he provided for the Patriots last year.

Ends up it could not have been much more motivating. The running game, without relying as much as they have actually been on Newtons contributions, began running over and through assorted Raiders protectors, and they did it regardless of the absence of starting center David Andrews.

Im grateful hes somewhere else. The opportunity to enjoy Cam Newton do his thing in his own fantastic method, even on a periodically aggravating day, is a satisfaction I didnt know we needed, however make certain happy we have.

Sundays video game supplied our very first look of what it looks like when Newton is off. After CBSs studio analysts raved about him throughout the pregame program– “The previous MVP might soon be the two-time MVP,” stated Nate Burleson, one not usually prone to hyperbole– Newton came out and played just a lawn or 2 much better than abysmally throughout the first quarter.

The Patriots managed simply 38 total backyards in the very first quarter, when Newton was 3 for 6 for 20 yards and an interception. The interception, by Jonathan Abrams on a required toss, came one play after he tried requiring the ball to Julian Edelman, leading the Patriots color expert to blurt, “No!” when he launched the ball.

He entered the video game as the Patriots leading rusher on the season, including 4 goals on the ground in 2 games. But it was those he handed the ball to that did the brunt of the legwork Sunday, with Sony Michel rushing for 117 of the Patriots 250 lawn on the ground. Newton ran 9 times for 27 lawns, season lows in efforts and yardage.

Brady is the greatest quarterback ever to play, and his Bucs managed a suspense-free 28-10 win over the run-down Broncos on Sunday afternoon to, like the Patriots, improve to 2-1. Brady was effectively excellent, setting up a stat line (25 of 38, 297 yards, 3 touchdowns, no interceptions) that could have been lifted from 2010 or another year of his prime.

While Newtons arm calibration wasnt precisely accurate for much of the day, he advised us again that any issues about his shoulder injury from two years ago ought to be summarily dismissed. His fastball still lights up the proverbial radar gun, his finest toss beginning a cannon-shot 27-yarder in to NKeal Henry with simply under 10 minutes staying to play. Two minutes later, he advised the Raiders that having him hemmed in does not mean a thing until hes on the grass, using some awesome footwork to break free for a 21-yard run, punctuating the have fun with a growl and an emphatic first-down signal.

Get Boston.coms internet browser informs:

Enable breaking news notifications straight to your internet browser.

Turn on notifications

Great, youre registered!

The Patriots handled just 38 total backyards in the first quarter, when Newton was 3 for 6 for 20 yards and an interception. While Newtons arm calibration wasnt precisely precise for much of the day, he reminded us once again that any concerns about his shoulder injury from two years ago need to be summarily dismissed.

He entered the video game as the Patriots prominent rush on the season, including 4 touchdowns on the ground in 2 video games. It was those he handed the ball to that did the force of the legwork Sunday, with Sony Michel hurrying for 117 of the Patriots 250 lawn on the ground. Newton ran nine times for 27 yards, season lows in efforts and yardage.