{"numbering":"no_numbering","slides":[{"title":"Intro","video":"kQRixp7nn9ci","thumbnail":{"uri":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/short_form_video/hero/OC_REPORT_CARD_WEEK_3_DIGITAL_1920x1080_1797350979976.jpg","alt":"Phil Perry's Week 3 Report Card: Top marks for Patriots running backs","title":"Phil Perry's Week 3 Report Card: Top marks for Patriots running backs"},"credit":"USA TODAY Sports photo","published":1600784287,"caption":"

Cam Newton knew as well as anyone that Sunday wasn't his day. He said as much after the Patriots beat up on the Raiders despite Newton posting his most inconsistent performance with his new team.

"Every read is not going to be ideal or perfect," he said. "I've just got to do a better job with protecting the football. That inexcusable interception was completely my fault. Trying to extend the play, kind of pressing a little bit too much. Yet at the end of the day, those type of games will happen, and we did what we needed to do, and I think that's all that matters."

Of course he's right. Doesn't matter how it gets done so long as it does. But against better teams -- particularly Kansas City, Newton's opponent in Week 4 -- that force opponents to maximize offensive possessions, Newton knows he'll need to be cleaner.

Let's get to the grades, starting where we always do, and figure out how badly Newton needed a hand from his running backs and offensive linemen...

"},{"title":"QUARTERBACK: C-","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/article/hero/Newton_C_USA_14991652.jpg","credit":"USA TODAY Sports photo","published":1601404517,"caption":"

Newton gave himself a "C" on WEEI's Greg Hill Show the morning after the game so we're not all that far off here. Four of Newton's passes could've pretty easily resulted in interceptions, though, which is what knocks the grade down significantly. Two were thrown to Julian Edelman in the middle of Raiders team meetings. One was picked on a scramble-drill gone wrong. A fourth was a screen pass that was targeted low enough that defensive end Clelin Ferrell nearly snagged it with one hand. (One throw into the end zone to Ryan Izzo that initially looked like a bad idea, though a tight-window attempt, ended up hitting Izzo in the hands. Didn't negatively impact this mark.)

On top of the passes that might've ended up in defenders' hands, there were five more that were inaccurately-placed. One, a screen attempt to J.J. Taylor, might've gone for a touchdown had he led Taylor with the pass -- something Newton had been very adept at doing through most of the first three weeks of the season. Taylor dropped it as it approached his back shoulder. Had Newton, who appeared to have time to get off a better throw, placed it out in front, it might've gone for a touchdown. Incompletions over the middle to Edelman and N'Keal Harry both looked a touch late and/or behind.

Newton made four well-placed passes that gave wideouts opportunities for some yards after the catch and he had a key scramble late for 21 yards. But as a passer, this was easily his rockiest game as Patriots quarterback. Over half his throws (15) were targeted either behind the line of scrimmage or within five yards of the line. He completed just three of nine attempts that traveled 10 or more yards beyond the line.

"},{"title":"RUNNING BACK: A","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/article/hero/Michel_S_Newton_C_USATSI_14991929.jpg","credit":"USA TODAY Sports photo","published":1601403922,"caption":"

The straight "A" doesn't get thrown around all that often here. (Just as a straight "F" doesn't.) But hard to give this group anything else. They ripped it up on the ground to the tune of 209 yards rushing between Sony Michel, Rex Burkhead and J.J. Taylor. They also contributed 72 yards as receivers, averaging over 8.0 yards per touch in the game.

Michel had his best performance since Super Bowl LIII, not only going off for runs of 48 and 38 yards using good vision and open-field running, he also chipped in with monster blitz-pickups and two catches. Burkhead -- the faster option of the two vets available, who's more adept at getting to the edges quickly -- made good reads at the line of scrimmage and decisive cuts at the second level. He put 2019 first-rounder Johnathan Abram on skates on his screen-pass touchdown in the second quarter. J.J. Taylor ran hard to the edges himself, showing clear juice on crack-toss plays designed to get him in space.

As a group, they forced seven missed tackles and picked up 111 yards after contact. That kind of production -- the kind that doesn't require perfect execution from the offensive line -- is what separates "average" from "very good" at the position.

"},{"title":"WIDE RECEIVER: C+","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Edelman_Julian_USATSI_14992036.jpg","credit":"USA TODAY Sports photo","published":1600781605,"caption":"

N'Keal Harry made something happen on his 27-yard catch-and-run. Julian Edelman found some separation against zone on his 15-yard deep-out reception. Practice-squad call-up Isaiah Zuber's end-around run for 13 yards showed that the Patriots do have some speed at the position beyond Damiere Byrd if they want to dip into their reserves.

But the contributions for this group were more about what they did as blockers. They had their moments. Harry helped cave in Clelin Ferrell on an early crack-toss play. Edelman blocked his man downfield on a couple of Burkhead's brightest moments, creating a little extra space on the outside.

Still, part of the reason Newton appeared hesitant in the pocket was because there weren't many openings for him to exploit. The protection was there. The quarterback was ready to pull the trigger. He just . . . couldn't. That falls on this group, and so this grade can't rise much higher than where it is.

"},{"title":"TIGHT END: C","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Izzo_Ryan_GettyImages_1228526772.jpg","credit":"Getty Images","published":1601404523,"caption":"

Jakob Johnson was rock solid here in the running game. Michel always seems to run more efficiently behind a fullback, and that was the case again Sunday thanks in part to Johnson's power at the point of attack. He saw 14 largely-productive reps as a run-blocker in this one.

We include the fullback in the tight end group because Johnson meets with tight ends regularly. The actual tight ends, though? Not their best day, despite the production numbers in the run game.

Ryan Izzo continues to struggle to hold up as a run-blocker. Rookie Devin Asiasi looked like the better option in that role -- and the Patriots might've agreed as he played a season-high 29 snaps, including a few as the lone tight end on the field -- though he was not a dominant player in that aspect, either. Add in Izzo's tough-but-still-off-the-hands target in the end zone and this was a very pedestrian performance.

"},{"title":"OFFENSIVE LINE: A","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/article/hero/Thuney_Joe_USATODAY_13592019.jpg","credit":"USA TODAY Sports photo","published":1601404648,"caption":"

What's the opposite of pedestrian? Start in the middle, where Joe Thuney played for the first time since a preseason game his rookie year back in 2016. He was a technician, as he always is at left guard, using his athleticism to reach defensive tackles and work his way to the linebacker level to wall-off defenders there.

Next to him, at his old spot, was a sixth-round rookie who more than held his own. Michael Onwenu is quickly looking like the most valuable rookie on Bill Belichick's roster. Not only does he have the power you'd expect from a 350-pounder, but he can move. He pulled on a Rex Burkhead 14-yard "power" run call and looked fluid.

In pass-protection, this unit was very solid. Isaiah Wynn -- who gave way to sixth-round rookie Justin Herron for 10 solid snaps -- allowed his first two pressures and first hit of the season. Otherwise? Jermaine Eluemunor allowed a sack. Shaq Mason allowed a couple of pressures. But it was nearly a clean sheet for this unit coached by Cole Popovich and Carmen Bricillo. Hard to ask for anything more given that they were without center and captain David Andrews.

"},{"title":"SPECIAL TEAMS: B+","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Folk_Nick_GettyImages_1277020425.jpg","credit":"Getty Images","published":1601407220,"caption":"

Nick Folk missed an extra point. Not ideal when your strength as a kicker is your extra-point consistency. Not ideal when a make there would've made it a three-score game.

But this group still comes away with a nice grade thanks to a quietly-massive play late in the game. Justin Bethel worked through contact, sped past a blocker, and made a kickoff tackle at the Raiders' 12-yard line. If that wasn't enough, the block-in-the-back penalty Bethel drew put the Raiders on their own six-yard line.

What happened one play later? Shilique Calhoun's second forced fumble of the game and a Deatrich Wise touchdown. Bill Belichick lauded that all-three-phases "complementary football" in the Patriots locker room after the game.

"},{"title":"DEFENSIVE LINE: B-","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Wise_D_Calhoun_S_GettyImages_1228767383.jpg","credit":"Getty Images","published":1601403774,"caption":"

Deatrich Wise has quietly become one of this team's best defensive linemen. A year ago he looked like a bad fit for a scheme that valued bigger bodies and had less use for traditional 4-3 ends. He built himself up in the offseason to better handle his responsibilities inside and it's paid off. He finished with two pressures, two quarterback hits, a run-stuff . . . and a touchdown. Hard to have a better day.

As a group, though? They continue to have their issues against the run. They allowed 5.7 yards per carry, including two Derek Carr scrambles for 10 yards. The run game was where this defense was most generous last season, and it looks like that'll continue to be the case unless this unit can show some improvement. Perhaps getting Beau Allen back healthy (currently on IR) would give them the bulk they need.

"},{"title":"LINEBACKER: A-","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/article/hero/Winovich_Chase_GettyImages_1277026265.jpg","credit":"Getty Images","published":1601407512,"caption":"

How did this group NOT come away with a straight "A?" Shilique Calhoun was a one-man wrecking crew, essentially helping swing the game by two scores with his forced fumbles. Chase Winovich came up with a strip sack for another turnover. He had four total pressures in the game. Derek Rivers had three. If not for this group, the result is very different.

There were hiccups, though. The Foster Moreau touchdown at the goal line looked like a linebacker miscommunication. Ja'Whaun Bentley lost an edge on a Josh Jacobs first-down run. There were also four timeouts taken by the Patriots over the course of the game to help with defensive substitutions. That certainly wasn't on the linebacker group alone. Bill Belichick put those burned stoppages on himself. But it did look like front-seven communication issues were the culprit when a couple of those timeouts were called.

"},{"title":"SECONDARY: B-","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/article/hero/McCourty_D_Waller_D_USATSI_14991647.jpg","credit":"USA TODAY Sports photo","published":1601406330,"caption":"

When you hold Darren Waller to two catches for nine yards, the grade can't get lower than this. Patriots defensive backs did well to funnel Waller to help in the middle of the field -- whether it was Devin McCourty, Adrian Phillips or someone else -- and discourage Derek Carr from throwing his way. Stephon Gilmore had Waller at times. Joejuan Williams was the initial answer on third downs. Kyle Dugger got into the mix later in the game. Jason McCourty saw Waller on a number of first and second-down snaps.

The issue here was penalties. A late second-quarter call against Stephon Gilmore, who lost track of Nelson Agholor at the line, helped the Raiders be in position to score a touchdown before the half. Williams ended up being called for two holding penalties on Waller -- painful automatic first-downs for them -- which led to him being taken off the assignment late. Dugger was the fill-in and seemed to acquit himself well.

Watching how the Patriots handle long, speedy tight ends on third down moving forward -- Williams? Dugger? Another? -- will be worth watching. Doubles are always an option, as they were frequently Sunday. But can't double everyone every week.

"}]}

Patriots Report Card: Offensive sidekicks save Cam Newton vs. Raiders