The New England Patriots weren't able to have any fans in attendance at Gillette Stadium for Sunday afternoon's Week 3 game against the Las Vegas Raiders, but they found energy in different ways.
One of those sources was quarterback Cam Newton.
Instant takeaways from Patriots' win over Raiders
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Boston sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman had plenty of praise for Newton giving the team tremendous energy and confidence, all of which are harder to manufacture without fans.
The Patriots got off to a slow start versus the Raiders and didn't score their first touchdown until the final minute of the second quarter. New England quickly found a rhythm in the second half, though, and ultimately prevailed with a 36-20 win.
Patriots Talk Podcast: Patriots prove they can win even when Cam Newton isn’t Superman | Listen & subscribe | Watch on YouTube
New England Patriots
Newton didn't give his best performance -- he completed 17 of 28 passes for 162 yards with one touchdown and one interception. The veteran quarterback also ran for just 27 yards on nine carries.
What these stats don't show is all the energy and passion Newton brought to the field Sunday, whether it was celebrating a first down, congratulating a teammate for making a good play, or just keeping everyone relaxed on the sidelines.
It's unknown when, or if the Patriots will be able to have fans at home games this season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Either way, you can bet Newton will continue to keep the Patriots' energy levels high with the competitiveness, swagger and confidence he brings to the field each game.