Patriots' Newton: 'I have yet to play my best football'
Cam Newton believes fans haven't seen his potential this season.
"I think what drives me is knowing I have yet to play my best football," the New England Patriots quarterback said Thursday, according to Zack Cox of NESN.
Newton was named MVP and Offensive Player of the Year in 2015 after throwing for 3,837 yards and 35 touchdowns while leading the Carolina Panthers to a 15-1 record. He also rushed for 636 yards and 10 scores that season.
However, the three-time Pro Bowler hasn't been able to replicate that production and after battling multiple injuries over the last two years, he was released by Carolina in the offseason.
Newton remains optimistic he'll get his game back on track.
"Have I done it consistently? Not to my liking. But I'm getting there. It's just a learning curve. It's just learning every day," he said.
Newton was held to 84 passing yards and had two interceptions for his lowest passer rating (23.6) of the season against the Arizona Cardinals last week.
In his first year with the Patriots, the 31-year-old has thrown for four touchdowns against nine interceptions through 10 games. He's done a better job on the ground, racking up 387 yards and nine scores, but hasn't run for a touchdown since Week 10.
Newton will try to end that scoring drought against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. The signal-caller has been limited at practice this week due to an abdomen injury but said he "will be (ready to play)," per Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk.
The 5-6 Patriots, winners of three of their last four games, currently have a 13% chance of making the playoffs, according to FiveThirtyEight.