QB1 Battle Between Cam Newton and Mac Jones Heats Up After Patriots' 35-0 Win Over Eagles

(Photo : Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) PHILADELPHIA, PA - Cam Newton of the New England Patriots gives a thumbs up against the Philadelphia Eagles in the second half of the preseason game at the Lincoln Financial Field on August 19, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Patriots defeated the Eagles 35-0.

The battle for New England's starting quarterback position intensified on Thursday as veteran Cam Newton and hotshot rookie Mac Jones put forth impressive performances in the Patriots' 35-0 demolition of the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2 of the NFL Preseason.

After a lackluster start the previous week, Newton came out of this game with guns blazing, completing 8 of his 9 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown. The former league MVP showed he can still rip it through the air, recording 11.4 yards per attempt against the Eagles.

Newton's passing steals the show in Week 2 game vs Eagles

It's safe to say that this was Newton's best passing performance in a Patriots uniform. Newton displayed in this game that he can still make accurate throws despite moving his feet around the pocket as his touchdown pass to Jakobi Meyers showed. If he can do that regularly and partner that with his vaunted running game, Newton will be hard to stop this coming season.

Cam Newton to Jakobi Meyers for the touchdown! The Patriots are dominating the Eagles backups right now. (Via @BenBrownPL)

pic.twitter.com/GY9Ocj3Y95
— Pats Buzz (@PatsBuzz) August 20, 2021

Newton had completions of 23 and 18 yards against Philadelphia and connected with Meyers on a 28-yard touchdown pass, albeit against the Eagles' second-team defense, to give New England a 13-0 advantage.

Just when it seemed Newton had locked up QB1 status for the Patriots' Week 1 clash against the Miami Dolphins, Mac Jones immediately gave pause to that thought with a spectacular showing in the second and third quarters of the game against the Eagles.

Jones making strong case to be New England's starter against Miami

Jones wreaked havoc against the Eagles' defense, going 13-of-19 for 146 yards during his two-quarter stint. It could have been much better for Jones as three of his incompletions were classified as drops.

Jones quickly went to work in his first drive of the night, leading the Pats to the end zone after a 17-play, 91-yard march that lasted nine minutes and four seconds. Jones never looked rattled and kept the drive going with a critical third down conversion from his own 6-yard line, finding Harry for a 19-yard gain on a 3rd-and-13 situation.

Mac Jones connects with N’Keal Harry for a big gain on third down. 👀 pic.twitter.com/lBWvE3auo4
— Pats Buzz (@PatsBuzz) August 20, 2021

If Jones' first drive was long and methodical, his second drive in the third quarter was of the no-huddle, up-tempo variety. That made no difference at all, as both of those drives ended in touchdowns for New England.

Given the excellent play of Newton and Jones, the question now is who Bill Belichick will pick as New England's Week 1 starter? Belichick has long maintained that Newton will be the Pats' starting QB in the season opener, but Jones is making a strong case to be the starter in his first official game with New England.

Jones, the first quarterback selected by the Patriots in the first round during Belichick's 21-year tenure in New England, is having a solid start to his preseason. He completed 13 of 19 passes for 87 yards in the Patriots' preseason opener against the Washington Football Team.