Belichick yet to decide on starting QB for Week 1
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said Sunday that he hasn't settled on a starting quarterback for Week 1 of the regular season.
"No, we still have a lot of decisions to make," Belichick told reporters after the Patriots defeated the New York Giants to cap the preseason, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss.
The Patriots started veteran Cam Newton in all three preseason games, while first-round rookie Mac Jones relieved him each time. Newton has taken first-team reps in practices, but Belichick hasn't committed to him as the opening-day starter.
While Newton played only two series against the Giants, Jones saw extensive action. The 22-year-old threw for 156 yards and a touchdown and wrapped up the exhibition slate without a single turnover.
QB comparison - preseason stats
| CMP/ATT | Yards | TD | INT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C. Newton | 14/21 | 162 | 1 | 1 |
| M. Jones | 36/52 | 389 | 1 | 0 |
Newton started all 15 games he was active for last year, though he and the offense as a whole struggled for most of the season.
The Patriots will open their campaign Sept. 12 against the Miami Dolphins. New England went 7-9 last year, finishing with a losing record for the first time since Belichick's debut campaign in 2000.