The New England Patriots' schedule has been the topic of debate all season long, and with the AFC title game upon us, the team's harshest critic has weighed in once again.
The New England Patriots accomplished quite a feat on Sunday against the Houston Texans and their high-powered defense. After seven years away from the AFC Championship game, they return to it with a brand-new coach, roster, and overall approach to winning games.
With the buildup to their trip to Empower Field at Mile High to take on the Denver Broncos, there comes a lot of analysis and even criticism. Mainly due to the situation the Pats find themselves in. Drake Maye and company will take on a top-ranked Broncos defense on the road.
On the flip side, the Patriots' aggressive defense squares off against a Bo Nix-less Broncos offense, as he is now done for the season with an ankle injury. The Broncos will now start Jarrett Stidham at quarterback on Sunday.
All this is leading to, for the Patriots, yet again, the argument about their easy regular-season schedule and easy path to the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Who better to chime in on all of this than former NFL MVP Cam Newton?
Newton, who called the Patriots "fool's gold" early this season when he appeared on ESPN's First Take. Now with the season wrapping up, he hopped on his podcast "4th & 1" this week to tell the world that the Patriots' road to the Super Bowl has been the "easiest in NFL history." See the clip below for yourself.
"The New England Patriots have had the easiest road to the Super Bowl in NFL history," Newton said. "First off, going into Foxborough, the first team that you play, the Los Angeles Chargers, is a bottom-tier team. Not a team expected to have a deep playoff push. Justin Herbert isn't who we thought Justin Herbert was. He don't got nobody protecting him; I was praying for him."
Newton didn't let up; he then jumped to the divisional round win."
And they played another team that came into Foxborough that was deficient skillfully—the Houston Texans. Nico Collins, out. That was not the best version of that team. CJ Stroud throwing four interceptions, having a passer rating that was conducive to him just taking a step back and spiking the ball. Now you play a Denver Broncos team that really is deficient, too. You are going up against the second-string quarterback in Jarrett Stidham. Their opponents have been deficient."
What's it going to take to impress Cam?
It was back in Week 4, when Drake Maye ran in for a touchdown in the 42-13 dominant win over the Carolina Panthers, when the North Carolina native imitated Newton's famous "Superman" celebration move in the end zone.
Since then, Maye has clearly heard Newton's comments. He was spotted doing pregame warmups a month later, brushing off another chance to do Newton's celebration.
The Patriots have a chance this Sunday to defeat a dangerous Broncos defense, something that Newton could not do in his one Super Bowl appearance a decade ago.
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