Patriots bench Cam Newton after three-pick performance against 49ers

The Patriots may just have to accept that this is the team they have in 2020, Tom Brady isn’t walking through that door, and as Bill Belichick is fond of saying, it is what it is. Against the 49ers on Sunday, Cam Newton completed just nine of 15 passes for 98 yards, no touchdowns, and three interceptions before he was benched in favor of Jarrett Stidham.

Not that it was ALL Newton’s fault. On his second pick, taken by San Francisco cornerback Emmanuel Moseley, it would have helped had receiver Jakobi Meyers not fallen down on the deep ball. And the third pick was an (admittedly overthrown) pass to Julian Edelman that went off Edelman’s hands and given as a gift to cornerback Jamar Taylor. But still — this offense has been ugly, Newton has not played well, and at this point, Belichick can’t be blamed for exploring all his options.

Problem is, things haven’t been any better with Stidham in there.

When Brady left the Patriots, the argument was going to be, who would do better without the other. So far, Brady is leading that particular match with a vengeance.