That’s all folks: Pats win finale
Newton throws three TDs, catches another
FOXBORO — Call it the Cam Newton era.
Call it the death of the dynasty.
Call it a forgettable season in a year never to be forgotten.
Whatever your label, the misery that was the Patriots’ 2020 campaign is over.
It ended with a sweet, 28-14 farewell Sunday, when the Pats triumphed over the listless Jets under gray skies and spotty snow at Gillette Stadium. Newton capped the most taxing season of his career with his best performance as a Patriot, passing for 242 yards, rushing for 79 more, throwing three touchdowns and catching another. On a trick play late in the third quarter, Jakobi Meyers hit a wide-open Newton with a 19yard spiral to tie the game at 14 apiece, before Newton tossed two scores himself in the fourth to knock out New York.
Early on, Newton displayed a comfort at the controls of the Pats offense he’d rarely exhibited before: making checks at the line, completing full-field reads and operating without a huddle. As he continued, Newton posted his first game with multiple touchdown passes since 2018 and captained a second-half comeback.
Still, the Patriots finished 7-9, their worst record since 2000. The organization began turning its eye toward the future Sunday, rotating defensive players and featuring young talent on offense.
Rookie tight end Devin Asiasi caught his first two NFL passes, the latter a 26yard, go-ahead touchdown at the start of the fourth quarter. On the Pats’ next drive, Sony Michel scored on a 31-yard catch-and-run, his first receiving touchdown as a pro. Though Meyers out-did them both, snatching a teamhigh six catches for 68 receiving yards.
Defensively, J.C. Jackson and Jonathan Jones nabbed second-half interceptions to keep the Jets (2-14) off the scoreboard after they’d taken their first lead with a touchdown drive that broke a 7-7 halftime tie. New York quarterback Sam Darnold completed 23 of 34 passes for 266 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Every Jets drive after their second score resulted in a three-and-out or turnover before the end of the game.
The Patriots timed their offensive struggles slightly better, punting five straight times after an opening-drive touchdown.
Following two penalties on their first three snaps, the Pats watched Newton barrel through Jets tacklers on a 49yard run, the longest by a quarterback in franchise history. Four plays later, he flipped a 7-yard touchdown pass to James White for White’s first receiving TD of the season.
Then the Pats stalled out, beset by pre-snap penalties and sacks that caved in their offensive line, which played without starting center David Andrews and right guard Shaq Mason. The back-andforth offensive futility finally ended when, trailing 7-0 under the 2-minute warning, Darnold threaded a 21-yard touchdown down the middle to tight end Chris Herndon, who had split two deep safeties.
Breaking from halftime, Jets running back Josh Adams punctuated a 75-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run. Next, after a trade of thirdquarter punts, the Pats dipped into their back of tricks and pulled out the beginning of a comeback.
Around those efforts, safety Adrian Phillips, wide receiver Damiere Byrd, offensive tackle Justin Herron and defensive tackle Adam Butler all exited with injuries. Only Butler returned to play.
Here were the best and worst Patriot performances from Sunday:
Best
QB Cam Newton Given the circumstances — down two starting O-linemen, later a receiver and youth all around him — this was Newton’s best game as a Patriot.
WR Jakobi Meyers The Pats’ best skill-position player provided Newton with a reliable target in both halves and should, at the very worst, compete for a starting job next season.
OLB Chase Winovich He padded his team lead in sacks with two more against the Jets and finished with 5.5 on the season.
Worst
Pass protection The Pats missed Andrews and Mason dearly, allowing three sacks and seven QB hits.
DBMylesBryantHe missed a couple tackles, allowed several catches and delivered a helmet-to-helmet hit on the Jets’ game-tying touchdown at the end of the first half.