The Patriots went through a quarterback conundrum for the first time in 20 years in 2020. Tom Brady left for Tampa Bay and the Patriots were left with Jarrett Stidham. While both sides said all the right things all offseason, it was clear that things were going to change and change in a big way. Just not necessarily in a good way.
With the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic wiping out the offseason, the Patriots signed Cam Newton in late June, and although he did a crash course in the playbook, he had to deal with an abbreviated training camp and no preseason in an effort to learn the offense and find some chemistry with the receivers.