Jason Pombo

After another pathetic offensive performance, Cam Newton should grab the clipboard and take a seat on the bench for the three remaining games.

With the postseason likely out of reach, it’s time for Bill Belichick to make a quarterback change.

Newton has not eclipsed 120 passing yards in 4 of his last 5 starts, and has a mere 56.60 completion percentage during that time frame. Newton has been inconsistent all the season, and the Patriots should be ready to officially turn the page.

Newton’s 12 starts with the Patriots have been a model of inconsistency. He’s missed reads, taken unnecessary sacks, missed open receivers, and at times, has been a liability. The former MVP and so called “superman,” has looked like a shell of himself, looking old and beat up.

Bill Belichick and the rest of the coaching staff has inexplicitly continued to praise and back Newton, even after his train wreck performances on offense.

Yes, there are limitations with the skill position players. They don’t have the personnel to be potent on offense, but at times, Newton has not done enough to set them up for success. At the end of the day, Newton has not been able to capitalize on some golden opportunities.

Look, there are a lot of issues with this Patriots team. Cam Newton is not PROBLEM NUMBER 1, but finding a franchise quarterback is PRIORITY NUMBER 1. Cam Newton is not the franchise quarterback, and Jarrett Stidham COULD be.

Nobody knows how good Jarrett Stidham is. Nobody knows how well he’d perform in game action, with a week of preparation, taking first team reps. It’s likely that Stidham will end up mounting to nothing, but before the arrival of Cam Newton, many pegged Jarrett Stidham to be the starter.

So, why don’t the Patriots want to give Stidham a look?

Are they afraid to lose the locker room? Do they feel like Stidham is incapable? Does it have to do with Belichick’s relationship with Newton? Are the Patriots worried about the perception across the league if they bench Newton? Or, do they truthfully feel like Newton is NOT to blame?

I feel like it could be a combination of all of that. But, even with all of those factors, Stidham still deserves to start.

The simple answer is no.

After nine starts, the former MVP has proven to not be the savior in New England. The expectations of Newton were through the roof once the former Carolina Panthers quarterback signed in New England. Many expected him to be in the conversation for the Comeback Player of the Year award, and have the Patriots in charge of the AFC East. But, that just has not been the case… at least to this point.

It’s officially the halfway mark of the season for Bill Belichick and the Patriots. After eight games, we’ve learned a lot about this Patriots team.

Here’s my position grades for the Patriots through the halfway point of the season.

Stephon Gilmore is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, but his tenure in New England should come to an end by the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday, November 3rd.

COVID-19 has been an on-going problem for the Patriots, and have impacted their time at the facility for over two weeks. But, none-the-less, practice time and time at the facility should not be an excuse for a Bill Belichick coached team.

The Denver Broncos were coming into Gillette Stadium with a 1-3 record, with their lone victory coming against the Jets. They were even without two playmakers on offense in Melvin Gordon and Noah Fant. On top of that, the Patriots were getting Cam Newton and Stephon Gilmore back off of the COVID/RESERVE list. This game seemed like it would be an easy layup for the Patriots, but Vic Fangio and the Denver Broncos had other plans.

The NFL trade deadline is November 3rd, which means that it’s time to get the rumor mill going.

Last season the Patriots made two moves prior to the trade deadline. They gave up a 2020 second-round draft pick for WR Mohamed Sanu, and they traded DE Michael Bennett to the Cowboys for a 2021 seventh-round pick.

The Patriots are 2-2, and have some glaring needs on the roster. To this point, it’s evident that the Patriots are most in need of an upgrade at wide receiver or at tight end. Now, the question is, which of these holes should be a priority for Bill Belichick?

Here are 4 guys that the Patriots should look to target:

The Las Vegas Raiders came into this matchup against the Patriots with a 2-0 record, after upsetting the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football last week. Many people believed that Jon Gruden finally had this team going in the right direction.

But, the Patriots saw what the Raiders did to the Saints on Monday Night Football, and they were up for the challenge.