Report cards after Patriots games used to be such a huge thing. Not so much anymore. So, let's bring it back ... for one player.
Jarrett Stidham's grade for his first meaningful NFL appearance: C.
The quarterback, who replaced Brian Hoyer just before the completion of the third quarter and the Patriots trailing by 10, completed 5-of-13 passes for 60 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.
It were the kind of results that might suggest throwing a "minus" on the backside of that "C". But while the numbers told a good chunk of the story, it didn't offer the entire tale.
The good ...
- Despite Tony Romo's assertion that Stidham was throwing up in his mouth while trying to get the Patriots into the end zone, the second-year quarterback never seemed unnerved. In fact, his presence seemed to supply a bolt of energy to the offense, as was shown on his second play from scrimmage.
Auburn QB hands off to Alabama RB for 41 yards! @Jarrett_Stidham | @DHx34
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 6, 2020
📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/SZn9qqXsdC
- The touchdown pass to N'Keal Harry on 3rd-and-goal couldn't have been thrown any better.
- Stidham actually has a pretty good arm. Perhaps it was due to the juxtaposition against what Brian Hoyer was marching out, but whatever the case it was good to see.
The bad ...
- He threw two interceptions, and while one wasn't his fault (a Julian Edeman duo), he got away with adding another thanks to a pass interference call involving Harry just shy of the end zone.
Jarrett Stidham on the two interceptions:
— Casey Baker (@CaseyBake16) October 6, 2020
"Those are both on me. I gotta just place the ball better to Jules. And then the one to Damiere over the top, just trying to give him a chance. I just have to do a better job laying it out there for him to go get it.” pic.twitter.com/D5e2Ss6som
- Stidham didn't play well enough leading into this game to take Hoyer out of the equation. Considering what transpired in the first three quarters, that might have been the worst transgression of them all.
“Obviously, I’m really excited to get the opportunity just to get in there and play football with the guys. I just wanted to come in and move the chains, trying to give us a shot to just score some points,” Stidham said via video conference after the game. “It’s frustrating that we couldn’t pull out the win, but we can definitely learn and get better.
“It’s nice to get out there and to play, and to get those reps, but it’s obviously very frustrating to not come away with a win, throwing the two interceptions and so forth. I think I’ll be able to take a deeper look once I am able to watch the film. I definitely think there’s some better throws I could have made out there on the field. I’m anxious to watch the film and see what I can do better.”
