Bill Belichick 'Would Imagine' Cam Newton Starts Patriots' Week 17 Game vs. Jets

The New England Patriots guaranteed their first losing record since 2000 when they suffered a 38-9 loss to the AFC East champion Buffalo Bills on Monday, but head coach Bill Belichick doesn't plan on making changes for the final game of the season against the New York Jets.

In an appearance on 93.7 WEEI, Belichick said he "would imagine" Cam Newton would suit up as the team's starting quarterback again Sunday, despite having thrown for just 34 yards and rushed for 24 more in the team's loss.

The Patriots have started Newton all season, except for the one game he missed following his COVID-19 diagnosis, when Brian Hoyer started under center.

Backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham, who was drafted in the fourth round out of Auburn in 2019, has yet to make a start through his two seasons. 

The Patriots trailed by 22 points in the third quarter, when the team pulled him for Stidham. In his fifth appearance of the season (his fourth relieving Newton), Stidham collected 44 yards on 4-of-11 passing.

The 24-year-old has completed 22 of his 44 pass attempts for 256 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. Newton, in 14 games, has posted one of the worst passing seasons of his 10-year career, with 2,415 yards, five touchdowns and 10 interceptions to go with 513 rushing yards and 12 scores on 126 carries. 

On Tuesday, Belichick praised the 2015 MVP's performance against the Bills.

"I thought he did what we asked him to do," he said. 

Belichick has stood behind Newton throughout the season, even as the Patriots dynasty gets farther in the rearview in the absence of Tom Brady, who led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to their first playoff appearance since 2007.

Rather than look to Stidham—who he drafted—amid their struggles, Belichick has ignored questions about the quarterback room. 

Even if Newton gets the ball one last time for the Patriots next week, his future in Foxborough is uncertain. His one-year contract will all but expire following that game, as the Patriots will miss playoffs for the first time since 2008.