Patriots: Cam Newton close to passing Tom Brady statistically in 2020

Patriots QB Cam Newton is actually close to passing Tom Brady from a quarterback efficiency standpoint this season.

New England Patriots legend Tom Brady turned down the opportunity to sign a contract extension with the franchise last offseason in favor of joining a team with the requisite offensive firepower that would allow him to flourish in the pocket at his age.

Though the 43-year-old quarterback has largely been solid this season and has the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with one of the better records in the NFC, he’s also put forth some truly lackluster performances under center, and Monday night’s loss to the Rams fell under that category.

Brady missed a number of throws we usually see him complete in his sleep, and his two interceptions ultimately proved to be the difference in the game, even though the Buccaneers defense did everything possible to set him up with chances to take the lead.

Well, what if we told you that Cam Newton is actually close to passing Brady from a quarterback efficiency standpoint this season? The Patriots signal caller has really turned the corner in recent weeks and has helped him pick up some noteworthy ground.

Wait, we thought Brady signed with the Bucs because their abundance of playmakers would make things easier for him? The three-time MVP has understandably lost a bit of sizzle over the last few years as he’s aged, but the fact that he’s performed at the same level as Newton, who’s working with arguably the worst assortment of skill position players in the NFL, is kind of poetic.

For the sake of argument, let’s compare their stats. In 11 games, Brady is completing 64.7% of his passes for 2,955 yards and 25 touchdowns compared to nine interceptions, which equates to a respectable 70.3 QBR.

Newton, meanwhile, is completing 68.1% of his passes for 1,900 yards and four touchdowns compared to seven interceptions in nine games. Those numbers are obviously nothing to write home about, but the 31-year-old has been more efficient than any other QB with his legs, especially on the goal line, taking 83 carries for 341 yards and a whopping nine touchdowns, which is tied for third in the league.

This isn’t a debate about who’s the better fit for the Patriots, but you can’t deny that it says a lot about the criticism Newton’s received from media members that his performance is basically on the same level of a quarterback who has three Pro Bowl-caliber wide receivers at his disposal.

It obviously hasn’t been the season Patriots fans were hoping for, but they can no doubt take solace in Newton’s overall performance for the season.

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