In a game where Jalen Hurts unexpectedly didn’t play, the Patriots vs. Eagles didn’t disappoint. Cam Newton played well in his first significant action in 2021. Mac Jones finally showed off his arm. Rhamondre Stevenson looks like a monster in the Patriots backfield. On the other hand, the receivers had a rollercoaster night.
Cam Newton’s arm looks healthy
This certainly doesn’t appear to be the 2020 version of Newton. No, this Newton has an arm not fighting tooth and nail to survive attached to his shoulder. He is back to slinging the ball, showing off the arm strength he once so effortlessly possessed.
Yet, it wasn’t just the velocity that shined against the Eagles. Newton was also accurate, and he wasn’t tiptoeing around the line of scrimmage, either. He completed 8 of 9 passes, averaging 11.4 yards per attempt — both impressive marks. Additionally, Newton flashed with his legs and pocket maneuverability.
Sure, evading defensive linemen is a cerebral process as much as it is physical. But his feet were smooth, and his escape plans were flawless. He effortlessly ghosted multiple rushers on the night on his way to delivering accurate passes.
Mac Jones finally warmed up
It took Jones a while to warm his arm up. Yet, he found it in the Patriots vs. Eagles game Thursday night. He tested Washington downfield twice last week, but he never really challenged the defense with velocity to a tight window. That changed against the Eagles. It took him a game, but the arm finally loosened up.
Now, I won’t sit here and lie to you about Jones’ arm strength — it is very much average. Watch the difference in how he delivers a pass with velocity compared to any of the other first-round rookie QBs. Jones puts his entire being into making the ball jump out of his hand.
Still, he did just that, and he didn’t just do it once. Jones drove passes into tight windows multiple times against multiple coverages. One was a dart close to 20 yards downfield against man coverage. The other impressive throw came against spot-drop zone coverage. He threaded the needle to a sitting receiver that closed quickly.
But he was so much more impressive than just that. At one point, Jones went 13-of-19 with 3 dropped passes and one spike. Furthermore, the Patriots scored 3 touchdowns in Jones’ four drives.
Could there be a starting QB battle in New England heading into Week 1?
As long as Newton plays well for the Patriots in practice, he’ll continue as the presumed Week 1 starter. Still, Jones is proving he belongs in the NFL and in the conversation for the starting job.
The offensive line has given their quarterbacks solid protection overall. Both signal-callers have also been pressured at times, and both have navigated the pocket well to deliver completed passes.
Moreover, it’s tough to imagine HC Bill Belichick handing over the keys of the offense to a rookie. We also haven’t seen Newton’s trump card over Jones. Newton can use his legs as a weapon, making an efficient run game even more dangerous.
Rhamondre Stevenson is winning the preseason
Stevenson is the top performer so far in the 2021 NFL preseason, and it’s unlikely anyone catches up to him anytime soon. For a second straight week, he walks away with a multi-touchdown game.
Stevenson wowed people with his 91-yard TD scamper in his preseason debut. He ran for 127 yards on 10 carries and added another rushing touchdown against Washington. Somehow, he was even more impressive in the Patriots vs. Eagles game.
His feet are like lightning for a 230-plus pound running back. He makes much smaller defenders miss. His frame and explosiveness make him a difficult body to get to the ground. Defenders have to come with a bit of inertia to tackle him, which makes it easier for him to fool defenders in space.
Stevenson is also proving he can bring the thunder. Multiple times against the Eagles, he drug, drove, and shed tacklers on his way to creating yards after contact.
He fumbled in the fourth quarter, so there’s a chance we never see him again — Belichick hates fumbles. But what Stevenson flashed on the field was incredibly entertaining.
Dalton Miller is the Lead NFL Analyst for Pro Football Network. To yell at him for his other work on the site, you can find his writing here, and his voice and face on Pro Football Network Daily. Follow him on Twitch and Twitter @daltonbmiller.
