The only thing at stake in the game between the New York Jets and New England Patriots on Sunday is to end the regular season, perhaps a better draft position for the Patriots if they lose. Cam Newton is expected to remain the starting quarterback for the team on Sunday, but OddLakers of SportsLine believe it will likely be his last game with the franchise. Meanwhile, Sunday will be absolutely the last game as coach of the Jets for Adam Gase, and it could also be the final round with the team for fullback Sam Darnold. The Patriots are three-point favorites on the William Hill Sportsbook NFL odds.
New England’s one-year experiment with Newton clearly did not work, as the former NFL MVP is one of the worst QBs in the league at 78.9. Newton has just five passes after ten picks, and the Patriots as a team have eight passes. No NFL club has had less than ten TD passes since the 2012 Chiefs, finishing eight behind Matt Cassel and Brady Quinn.
Newton, who does have 12 TD runs, was taken off Monday night’s ugly 38-9 home loss to Buffalo after being 5-for-10 for all 34 yards, with coach Bill Belichick saying on Tuesday: “I would suggest “that Newton start here. Young backup Jarrett Stidham was no better at completing 4-for-11 for 44 yards and a pass rate of 49.1 over the Bills – and he was still not good at all in the limited 2020 action.
It is clear that New England will have to address the quarterfinals this season, and the Pats will choose number 15 overall in the first round of the 2021 draft. A loss can make them rise by a few places.
As for the Jets, there is no need to keep tanking, as they are locked into the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 draft, thanks to back-to-back wins and the Jacksonville Jaguars they invent.
It has been reported almost everywhere that the Jets have told Gase that he will be sacked immediately after this game or no later than Monday – this is no surprise, and SportsLine will have a chance for the next Jets coach next week.
However, now that the Jets cannot draft Trevor Lawrence, can they decide to give Darnold another chance in 2021? The Jets could set prospective prospect Penei Sewell of Oregon at No. 2 overall or a top receiver like Ja’Marr Chase of the LSU instead of quarterbacks like Zach Wilson of BYU or Justin Fields of Ohio.
Most in the NFL still believe that New York will take a QB at number 2. Darnold has started 36 NFL games and his career rating is 78.4, ranking 39th out of 40 qualifying backs since 2018.
Via OddLines of SportsLine: Who is the Patriots Week 1 starting with QB in 2021?
- Other current NFL quarterback -250
- Draft picks 2021: +400
- Jarrett Stidham +750
- Cam Newton +1200
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