2. Welcome Back, Cam Newton

There was no shortage of intrigue surrounding the Patriots’ offense after New England opted to sign Cam Newton as their next starting quarterback. The performance he provided on Sunday Night Football showed precisely why, and then some.

Getting the job done on throws was no issue for Newton. He completed 30-of-44 (68.2%) pass attempts and achieved totals of 397 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He routinely made big plays and led the Patriots’ offense to an impressive outing.

The rushing impact Newton provided was all the more impressive, particularly in the red-zone in goal-line situations. He rushed 11 times and contributed 47 yards with his legs along with a pair of rushing scores. While that didn’t result in a game-winning score at the end of the game, overall, he was quite effective in similar situations earlier in the game.

Newton provided a truly incredible level of contribution to help New England compete against one of the top teams in the NFL — making his performance all the more impressive.