The guessing game will continue for one last week when it comes to the New England Patriots’ quarterback situation.
Fans and media members wanted to see Jarrett Stidham as the team’s starter after the Patriots fell out of the playoff race, but Bill Belichick kept Cam Newton in. Belichick’s been asked on numerous occasions about making the change for the final two weeks of the season and his answer remained the same — Newton is the starter.
Belichick went ahead with this plan in an ugly 38-9 loss against the Buffalo Bills and eventually pulled Newton late in the third quarter. Stidham came in and didn’t produce much more than Newton, and Belichick said the 31-year-old wasn’t the problem.
Heading into Week 17, the Patriots will face the New York Jets and the outcome won’t have much meaning. It would make sense to finally give the second-year quarterback a chance, but it doesn’t look that way. Belichick was asked if Newton would start while joining WEEI’s “Ordway, Merloni & Fauria” on Tuesday.
“I would imagine, but hey we’re going through that now,” he said. “We’ll see.”
Newton finished the game throwing 5-of-10 for 34 yards, while tacking on 24 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. Belichick was asked what he thought Newton did well in the game and had a blunt response.
“I thought he did what we asked him to do,” he said.
When asked about Stidham’s moment to showcase his talent, he responded with some depth.
“At some point he will get an opportunity to play with a good opportunity to prepare and play, and that will be a better evaluation,” Belichick said. Whatever point that is, I don’t know.”
The Patriots look to finish the season 7-9 with a win over the Jets.
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