The New England Patriots experienced somewhat of a reality check when they came up against the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs on Monday and backup quarterbacks Brian Hoyer and Jarrett Stidham had to step in for absent Cam Newton.
While fans may choose to look at the score as a positive, the other side of the ball was an ugly affair.
That was due to the absence of superstar quarterback Cam Newton who has stepped into the Tom Brady-shaped hole with apparent ease.
But after he tested positive for Covid-19, it was next man up and career back-up Brian Hoyer was the man for the job.
Two and a bit quarters was enough to see that he couldn’t get the job done but it wasn’t long before Jarrett Stidham was also putting in an unimpressive performance.
And with Cam expected to be out for their Week 5 match-up against the Denver Broncos, it leaves the Patriots’ front office with a difficult decision – who is going to start at quarterback? After Monday’s loss, the choice seems obvious.
New England Patriots Should Start Jarrett Stidham Against the Denver Broncos
Jarrett Stidham Did Less to Lose the Starting Job Than Brian Hoyer
Brian Hoyer was promised a shot at the QB1 slot as a condition of his return to Gillette Stadium for his third stint.
Granted, that was said before Cam Newton came aboard, but by the look of his performance on Monday, it’s difficult to see him ever occupying that spot on the roster.
Hoyer’s red zone presence was embarrassing. He made mistakes that someone with his number of years in the league should know never to make.
The veteran was first sacked to end the first half which left the Patriots without being able to take advantage of their field-goal range. Then there was the strip-sack and Belichick had had enough.
Not only did Hoyer fail to put any points on the board himself, he actually cost the team points – twice.
Stidham, who has much less experience, stepped into his first NFL start with impressive confidence, commanding a 75-yard scoring drive that culminated in his first career touchdown pass to N’Keal Harry.
What’s more, the drive was evidence that Stidham has talent and that there is a lot of potential there.
And while Hoyer’s ugly and fundamental errors are not acceptable from a quarterback of his experience, you could be forgiven to explain away Stidham’s two turnovers as nerves and inexperience in what was probably the team’s most important game of the season.
The fault of the pick-six thrown by Stidham can also largely be placed on the shoulders of Julian Edelman.
It was a far from perfect performance from the second-year quarterback but he has the benefit of inexperience to explain away some of his more grievous errors. Brian Hoyer does not.
The Denver Broncos Are a Much Easier Opponent
The Denver Broncos will provide a much-needed change of pace for the New England Patriots in a match-up that has again been moved to Monday because of Covid-19 protocol.
The 1-3 Broncos are very much struggling on both sides of the ball and this could be the perfect setting for second-year quarterback Jarrett Stidham to really find his feet.
He’s already gone up against the defending champions and got the rookie errors out of the way. If he was given his first career start against the Broncos and does well who’s telling what good that could do for his confidence and skill going forward.
That’s not to say the Broncos’ defense isn’t a strong unit. They have recorded 13 sacks so far this season but with star linebacker Von Miller, defensive tackle Jurrell Casey and cornerback A.J. Bouye on injured reserve, it will be a young squad going up against the Patriots on Monday.
The Patriots’ defense could be facing a back-up themselves and after the way they performed against Kansas City, they could do enough to carry the fledgling offense through if they can keep the Broncos off the field.
With a full week to prep for the game, Stidham should stand a good chance at a winnable match-up should Belichick put him in at starter.
Jarrett Stidham Is the Future of the New England Patriots
Over the summer, before the Patriots signed Cam Newton, and perhaps even before taking on Hoyer, the chatter coming from the front office was that they were confident in what Stidham had to offer the team.
They believed he could be the guy to take over the next chapter of the Patriots and that he had enough raw ability and sense to lead the offense to success.
With that in mind, it’s clear the coaching staff see Stidham as more than just a back-up, which Hoyer has been throughout his entire career.
What better opportunity, then, than to let him get his first career start against a struggling team in a week when interim superhero Cam Newton is out for the week?
Stidham has to get the experience somehow and games like this could provide vital snaps that help him on his way to his full potential.
If the Patriots or Cam Newton decide to part ways at the end of his one-year contract, Stidham needs to be ready to take over.
He definitely has work to do but it is surely much better to learn how to deal with pressure in the pocket and reading a defense when you’re on the field and your choices matter than in practices.
Conclusion
It would not be surprising if Belichick decided to stick with Hoyer come Monday to give the veteran a chance to right his wrongs and prove he can play smarter football. His experience is a huge positive in his favor albeit if it’s his only positive.
And although Jarrett Stidham would be the bolder choice, it’s the choice New England Patriots fans want to happen so they can see if Stid the Kid can get the job done.
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