Cam Newton vs. Mac Jones: How QB battle looks after Week 2 preseason game

The Philadelphia Eagles defense didn’t put up too much of a fight against the Patriots and it didn’t help that they sat some key defensive players. But, there’s no doubt that both Cam Newton and Mac Jones both looked great running the offense in Week 2 of the preseason.

Week 2 preseason reps, stats

Cam Newton: 8/9, 103 yards, 1 touchdown, 0 interceptions

Mac Jones: 13/19, 136, 0 touchdowns, 0 interceptions

Who has the edge in the QB battle entering Week 3 of the 2021 NFL preseason?

At this point the edge remains with Newton, as he’s been practicing with the first team and played with the first team in this game. He excelled as a passer in this one as well, giving Bill Belichick no reason to shuffle up the depth chart just yet. Newton did have plenty of time and threw strikes. including a 28-yard touchdown pass to Jakobi Meyers.

Meyers did the bulk of the work here, but it’s still seven points for Newton.

Jones did nothing to push him back in the quarterback competition though. He was decisive and showed a strong arm, including another deep pass that was dropped. Of his six incompletions n this game, three were drops and one was a spike to kill the clock. The only thing we’ve yet to see from Jones is time against a first team defense. It would be telling if Belichick gave him some work against the ones next week against the Giants.

Both quarterbacks have shown well this preseason and it all comes down to what Belichick wants from his signal caller to start the year. I wouldn’t be surprise if it’s either player at this point.