Newton ran the ball 15 times in Sunday's game. Sure, you're sitting there saying, "So? He's a running quarterback. Everybody knows that." But did you know that there has been only one game in Newton's career in which he had more than 15 carries? He had 17 for the Panthers in a 37-37 tie against the Bengals in 2014. His 15 carries Sunday were the most he has had in an NFL game without playing overtime. He rushed for two touchdowns, and he threw the ball just fine -- 15-for-19 for 155 yards and no interceptions. It was an exceedingly under control game plan, and it worked. The Patriots, who obviously want to be a run-dependent team, called design runs on 65% of their plays -- their highest such percentage since Week 17 of the 2008 season.
Newton said after the game that the extent to which he and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels are jelling is the result of "them understanding who they have and what I have," and if you have a healthy Cam Newton and you want to be a running team, you're crazy not to make him a big part of that. Asked about the number of carries, Newton said, "I just wanted to win" and talked about the ways he and McDaniels discussed trying to pick apart this particular Dolphins defense.
The Patriots under Belichick are known, as much as any team, for varying their game plans week to week depending on the opponent. As such, it might be that 15 is the most carries Newton has in any game this season, and that might be the smart way to go if the Pats want to get him through the season. But it was obvious that he was having fun out there, and with the secondary collecting three interceptions of Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, he wasn't alone. The game was ugly at times, but it was a good team win for New England to get the season started 1-0.
15/19
155
100.7 rating
15/75 and 2 TD's
i have never ever been a fan of his, or his style of play, but man was i impressed with what he did yesterday.
Newton said after the game that the extent to which he and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels are jelling is the result of "them understanding who they have and what I have," and if you have a healthy Cam Newton and you want to be a running team, you're crazy not to make him a big part of that. Asked about the number of carries, Newton said, "I just wanted to win" and talked about the ways he and McDaniels discussed trying to pick apart this particular Dolphins defense.
The Patriots under Belichick are known, as much as any team, for varying their game plans week to week depending on the opponent. As such, it might be that 15 is the most carries Newton has in any game this season, and that might be the smart way to go if the Pats want to get him through the season. But it was obvious that he was having fun out there, and with the secondary collecting three interceptions of Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, he wasn't alone. The game was ugly at times, but it was a good team win for New England to get the season started 1-0.
15/19
155
100.7 rating
15/75 and 2 TD's
i have never ever been a fan of his, or his style of play, but man was i impressed with what he did yesterday.
