Patriots OC Josh McDaniels 'absolutely' believes in Cam Newton as a passer

It's easy to forget now but early on in the season, the New England Patriots looked like geniuses for signing Cam Newton. Just a few months later, Newton is playing like an extra running back who occasionally throws passes, as he has only crossed 200 yards passing once in the last six games. 

Has Newton lost the confidence of the Patriots? According to offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, the team still has complete faith in their quarterback. When asked if he trusted Newton as a passer, McDaniels said "absolutely" before diving into what he admires most about the former MVP. 

"The best part about Cam Newton is the only statistic he cares about is the one in the win column," McDaniels said.

Newton and the Patriots have had moderate success in that area, as the team is 5-6 and still has a chance of getting into the playoff picture if they can win a few more games. But despite McDaniels' praise, it's hard to imagine the Patriots making the postseason without Newton stepping up his game. They currently sit behind both the Buffalo Bills and the Miami Dolphins in the AFC East standings, as well as being 10th in the AFC standings.

The stagnant offense is the biggest reason for the Patriots' struggles to win games, as the Newton-led unit is scoring less than 21 points a game, which is only better than a handful of other teams in the league. If Newton can improve the team in that category even slightly, they could still have a fighting chance of not missing the playoffs.