AP photo Patriots quarterback Cam Newton lets a downfield pass go during Sunday's 18-12 surprising loss to the Denver Broncos at Gillette Stadium.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton said Monday morning on Boston radio that the Patriots “have no room to look through a telescope. Our focus should be with a microscope.”

OK, when let’s take a microscopic look at the Patriots and their offensive issues and see why exactly the New England Patriots offense been struggling:

One, the offensive line is suddenly in shambles, not entirely the team’s fault, with the COVID issues, etc.. Sunday the team had hardly anyone in their usual positions. It’s incredible to wonder where they’d be without their sixth round draft pick, Mike Onwenu. He’s played great and it’s just incredible to think that a sixth rounder would be so invaluable.

The Patriots lost the turnover battle 3-2 on Sunday, something we hadn’t seen often at all the last 20 years. Here’s the thing: When you have offensive line struggles, it sets off a chain reaction that can very often lead to turnovers. Once things settle down – and they should – that will change.

As Newton said after the game Sunday, “Those are drive killers and those are game killers.”

Two, the receivers are just not there. Right now Damiere Byrd is your best one. What does that tell you?

Julian Edelman is a shell of his former self, because, at 34, he has taken an incredible amount of hard hits and he’s had other health issues, including his knee. Edelman was targeted six times on Sunday by Cam Newton but had only two catches for eight yards. His best value was on the gadget plays throwing two completions.

N’Keal Harry is looking more and more like a bust. He needs to be a number one receiver, and he’s playing like a No. 5 guy, with zero catches Sunday, caught flat footed on the team’s final critical play in the red zone when Newton had to release early and wide of the target due to the Denver pass rush (back to the offensive line).

Harry was drafted in the first round because he appeared to be the type of receiver who could to up and catch the uncatchable. The Patriots need to get away from the days when James White (eight catches, 65 yards) is their top target.

Third, the tight end position seems non-existent, taking away a onetime reliable aspect. While Rob Gronkowski was spiking footballs in the end zone in Tampa on Sunday, Ryan Izzo was fumbling them. He did have three catches for 38 yards but coughed up the ball after one of them. Draft picks Devin Asiasi (active) and Dalton Keene (inactive) haven’t been a factor yet. That doesn’t mean to say they won’t be eventually, but the Patriots could use them sooner than later.

Newton was asked after Sunday’s game what his confidence level is in his targets, as he said a couple of weeks ago the answers were already in the locker room.

“Extremely high,” he said.

Good for him, as the Patriots’ offense needs to know their quarterback has confidence in everyone. He is no fool.

The Newton factor is the fourth issue. The Patriots are using him to run the football, and while he’s a great tool to have, they can’t fall into the trap of relying on his ball-carrying ability too much.

The good side of the Newton factor is we’ll see how the team follows his lead.

“Yeah, there’s no need to panic,” he said Sunday. “But we for sure have an opportunity here that we just can’t, we just cannot allow ourselves to just go through the motions and expect, us being who we are, is going to take care of itself.”

He feels “just playing with a sense of urgency” is what the Patriots need, while walking that delicate balance of avoiding panic.

“The sky might be falling,” Newton said on WEEI’s Greg Hill Show, “but listen, I’ll bring my umbrella, my rain coat to get the job done.”

The telescope tells you the AFC landscape has changed dramatically. Kansas City, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Tennessee are all looking like they have what it takes to be AFC powers.

The Patriots right now – and we stress right now – don’t.

This will be an interesting week. It’s Jimmy G Week, as the San Francisco 49ers and a guy named Garappolo are coming to town. He bounced back big time on Sunday night, and there will be all sorts of revisionist history this week.

Forget all that. Follow Newton’s lead and look at things through that microscope.

THIS WEEK’S RANKINGS:

AFC: 1.Kansas City (5-1). 2. Pittsburgh (5-0). 3. Tennessee (5-0). 4. Baltimore (5-1). 5. Buffalo (4-2)

NFC: 1. Seattle (5-0). 2. Tampa Bay (4-2) 3. Green Bay (4-2). 4. Chicago (5-1). 5. L.A. Rams (4-2).

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