2-2 Patriots’ primary problem is secondary
Watson, Texans enjoy record-setting game
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The secondary was supposed to be a strength for New England this season. It’s been anything but. Cam Newton became the fourth straight quarterback to torch the Patriots for more than 300 yards on Sunday, leading Carolina to a 33-30 win over the defending Super Bowl champions (2-2), whose two losses have both come at home.
The 2015 league MVP had been struggling to find his passing rhythm this season and hadn’t thrown for over 200 yards in a game. But on Sunday, he completed 22 of 29 throws for 316 yards and three touchdowns, with one interception. Five completions went for more than 20 yards.
More often than not, Newton found receivers that were wide open because of a broken coverage. His first touchdown, a screen pass to Fozzy Whittaker in the second quarter, went for 28 yards after cornerback Stephon Gilmore followed running back Christian McCaffrey in motion and left the entire left side of the field open.
“We’re beating ourselves,” said cornerback Malcolm Butler. “We lost the game ourselves. It was nothing Carolina was doing. Basically, we beat ourselves, blown coverages, penalties.” ANTHEM: The San Francisco 49ers, with whom the national anthem issue began with Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling during it more than a year ago, had their first chance to react to President Trump’s criticism of athletes kneeling during the song prior to their game at Arizona. The players formed two lines. Those in the front kneeled and the players in the back remained standing, setting off a round of boos at University of Phoenix Stadium.
Nine Seattle Seahawks players sat on the bench during the national anthem before their game against Indianapolis. The Colts all stood on the sideline with arms interlocked during the anthem.
TV: The Fox crew working the New York Giants-Tampa Bay game featured twin brothers Ronde and Tiki Barber, who played their entire NFL careers for the Bucs and Giants, respectively. They were 2-2 in head-to-head meetings as pros.
GIANTS: Odell Beckham Jr. isn’t giving up on New York’s chances of making the playoffs, even though Sunday’s 25-23 loss to Tampa Bay dropped the team to 0-4.
SIDELINED: Vikings running back Dalvin Cook was lost to what could be a torn knee ligament, which would end his rookie season. He had 13 carries for 66 yards and a touchdown before his knee buckled on a third-quarter run and he went down and fumbled. … Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota injured his hamstring and didn’t play after halftime of the Tennessee’s loss in Houston. He will have an MRI today. … The Raiders didn’t have Derek Carr to try to lead them back in Denver after he was shaken up on sack in the third quarter of their 16-10 loss. Coach Jack Del Rio said Carr suffered from back spasms. … The Falcons lost Julio Jones in the second quarter with a hip flexor injury. Mohamed Sanu was then ruled out with a hamstring injury in the third quarter. … The Bills lost safety Colt Anderson to an arm injury in the first quarter, along with linebacker Ramon Humber (thumb), receiver Jordan Matthews (thumb), and cornerback E.J. Gaines (groin).