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The Patriots struggled to get anything going all day offensively. Cam Newton was having a hard time avoiding pressure and making the right decision under center.
However, after a missed field goal by Zane Gonzalez with less than a minute left, Newton led the Patriots down the field with a gain of ten yards that would’ve given him the first down. At the end of the play, Cardinals 2020 first-round pick Isaiah Simmons finished the play by hitting Newton along the sidelines right on the helmet.
The play drew a flag and gave the Patriots 15 extra yards to provide them some room to set up Nick Folk’s game-winner.
After the game, New England safety Adrian Phillips spoke about the hit during his media availability.
Adrian Phillips on the scuffle that followed Isaiah Simmons hit on Cam Newton: "You can't let anyone take cheap shots or get in one of your teammates' faces. … We knew the team was going to rush to got to Cam's defense." pic.twitter.com/GxXhxEBhOT
— Zack Cox (@ZackCoxNESN) November 29, 2020
Cam Newton scrambles for the 1st down and gets hit out of bounds by Isaiah Simmons. Huge Play.#GoPats pic.twitter.com/6gL2wMu8aL
— Roto Street Journal (RSJ) (@RotoStJournal) November 29, 2020
Newton’s teammates were quick to defend him as the scuffle broke out on the sidelines. Simmons may not have had any ill intent behind the lowering of his helmet into Newton’s, but it was a dangerous hit that the league and players want to see eliminated from the game.
Fans and the team should be grateful for the dumb decision by the rookie, as it gave the Patriots just enough extra to set up for the field goal. Without the penalty, who knows if the Patriots would’ve been able to pick up those 15 yards another way. They struggled to do much offensively, so that certainly wasn’t a given.
It’s good to see that Phillips and many other teammates are still coming to Newton’s defense despite his poor performance.
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