New England Patriots: 3 Biggest surprises from win in Week 1

1. Cam Newton transitioning easily to his new team

Perhaps the biggest surprise that took place in the game was the relatively easy transition that quarterback Cam Newton made in his debut with a new squad in Foxborough.

Going into the new year, especially without any preseason contests, there were plenty of questions surrounding Newton and how fast he would be able to get acclimated to things in New England and how fast he will understand the system on the offensive side of the ball.

Well, on Sunday in the season-opening win, the biggest surprise was just how comfortable Newton looked and how easily the transition appears for the veteran quarterback with the Patriots.

With Newton, the Patriots now have a quarterback and an offense that can hurt opposing defenses both on the ground and through the air, and that was certainly on full display in the Week 1 contest against the Dolphins.

In his debut, Newton finished throwing 15-of-19 with 155 passing yards and an average of 8.2 yards per completion. On the ground in the rushing attack, he ran for a team-best 15 rush attempts for 75 yards and two touchdowns, averaging five yards per attempt.

Moving forward, it will be interesting to see how New England continues to get creative with Newton and how it chooses to use him week-in and week-out. Regardless, it will be important for the future success of the Patriots if Newton can continue to showcase what he did in the Week 1 win on Sunday. If he is able to, this team is going to be tough to stop.