Chargers: Cam Newton outduels Justin Herbert – Week 13 game grades

Cam Newton Grade: B

Yes, this may be the best grade you’ll ever see for a winning quarterback throwing for 69 yards. It was a whacky one. Post Newton contracting COVID and the ensuing Patriots October struggles, one of the biggest team issues was Newton’s turnovers in high leverage moments.

Today with an early two-possession lead, Cam protected the football which is the one criteria for beating this year’s LA Chargers. In typical Belichickian fashion, lack of turnovers and superior situational football carried the day for Newton’s club.

He set the tone on the opening drive with good decisions on some zone-read keepers. The Pats established the line of scrimmage and seized control of the game early with strictly Newton and Damien Harris working in the ground game.

The drive ended with Cam taking advantage of his 6’5 frame with a leaping goal-line sneak score to give New England a lead they’d never look back on.

Newton’s legs highlighted the day for the Patriot offense, rushing for 48 yards, including his 68th and 69th career rushing touchdowns. Surpassing Eddie George and Maurice Jones-Drew for their whole careers.

Though Newton’s mechanics and accuracy have left us with the impression he may be done sooner than he’d like since the show he put on in Seattle, his unique build and duel threat skill set is enough to keep the Patriots in games. Today, though he only completed 12 passes for an aforementioned 69 yards, he was on point all day.

Though there were Newton-Chargers rumors, in hindsight, the Chargers made the right decision in rolling with Justin Herbert.

Though Newton has to be thrilled with the way the cookie crumbled, landing with the best coach in league history, whose greatness and established winning culture has allowed Newton to be in the thick of a playoff race despite a talent-devoid crop of weapons with him.